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OF THE 



Relating to 

Qualifications and Registration of Voters, 

Political Committees, Caucuses, 

Conventions and the 

Nomination of Candidates. 

Also 

ACT OF CONGRESS "McCALL BILL" 



WITH AN APPENDIX 

Containing- Information Relative to 

ELECTION DISTRICTS, NATURALIZATION, 

ETC 

AND A SUMMARY 

OF THE LEGISLATION OF 1910 



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1910 



Compiled by 

RICHARD L. GAY 

*« 
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Copyright, 1910, by Richard L. Gay. 



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f* 



CONTENTS. 

Acts of 1907, Codification 6 

Acts of 1907, Additional 106 

Nomination of Senators in 1st Hampden and 3d Middle-.... 

sex Districts • 106 

Relative to Unsigned Political Advertisements and- Po- 
litical Contributions by Corporations 107 

Acts of 190S 109 

Relative to Corrupt Practices in Elections 109 

Nomination of Senator from the First Worcester Dis- 
trict 109 

Relative to the Publication of Official Ballots 110 

Authorizing an Extension of the Time for Listing 

Voters in Boston Ill 

Prohibiting the Making of Political Contributions by 

Business Corporations 112 

Limiting the Number of Persons that may be Employed 

by Political Committees in Cities 113 

Acts of 1909 114 

Relative to Nomination of Candidates for Senator and 
Members of State and District Committees in the 

First Essex Senatorial District 114 

Acts of 1910 115 

Relative to the Nomination by Direct Plurality Vote 
of Senators and Representatives in the General 

Court 115 

Act of Congress Providing for Publicity of Contribu- 
tions made for the Purpose of Influencing Elec- 
tions at which Representatives in Congress are 

Elected. "McCall Bill." *. 118 

Assessment of Poll Taxes and Lists of Persons As- 
sessed 13 

Appendix 123 

Ballot Law Commission .... 

Boston 29 

State 80 

Caucuses, Provisions Applying to All 33 

Provisions Applying to., at which Official Ballots are 

Not Used 41 

Provisions Applying to., at which Official Ballots are 

Used 45 

Joint, or Primaries 61 

Caucus Officers . .59, 64 

Caucus Legislation 1910, Summary of Appendix xix 

Corrupt Practices, Provisions Applying to ....83, 109, 112 
3 



CONTENTS— Continued. 

Calendar for Current Year 2 

Political, State Election Appendix xvi. 

Political, Cut Election Appendix xviii 

Election Districts in Massachusetts Appendix iii 

Congressional Districts Appendix iii 

Councillor Districts Appendix v 

Senatorial Districts Appendix viii 

Enforcement of the Provisions of Chapter 560 105 

Explanatory Note 5 

Index, General Appendix xxi 

Inquest in Caucuses, Convention and Election Cases.. 91 

Joint Caucuses or Primaries 61 

Listing- and Registration of Voters in Boston SO 

Naturalization (A digest of the present lav*) 

Appendix xiii 

Nomination of Candidates 6J> 

By Convention, Caucus or Primary 69 

Br Direct Plurality Vote 60, 115 

By Nomination Papers 72 

Xomination Papers 74 

Relating to Caucuses and Primaries 48-64 

Relating to Elections 75 

Certificates of Nomination and 74 

Filing of 73 

Objections to 77 

Withdrawals of See index, appendix xliii 

Vacancies See index, appendix xli 

Penalties i>2 

On Officers 02 

On V< kters 05 

General Penalties 07 

Political Committees 29 

State Committee 29 

City, Ward and Town Committees 30 

Rules and Regulations of 32 

Primaries 61 

Qualification of Voters 12 

Condensed Statement Appendix xii 

Registration of Voters 16 

State Election, when licltl N2 

Officers to be Chosen in 1910 82 

Summary of the Legislation of 1910 Helming to 
t amuses, Election, ele Appendix xix 



EXPLANATORY NOTE. 

This Compilation gives either in full or in 
abstract all the Election Laws of Massachu- 
setts as codified, in 1907 together with all 
other acts passed since the enactment of said 
codification. It covers all the provisions of 
law now in force relating to qaulifications, as- 
sessment and registration of voters, politi- 
cal committees, caucuses and primaries, con- 
ventions, nomination papers, and the filing 
of papers necessary to insure the placing of 
a candidate's name on the official ballot for 
use at elections. 

In the Appendix will be found an abstract 
of all of so much of the new Federal natural- 
ization law as will be of interest to applicants 
for naturalization, a list of the election dis- 
tricts of Massachusetts, political calendars re- 
lating to State and City elections for the cur- 
rent year, and a Summary of all legislation 
relating to caucuses and elections passed by 
this year's legislature. 

The compiler is indebted to Arthur P. Gay, 
Esq., of the Boston Bar, for editorial assist- 
ance, and William Nelson, Esq., Deputy Clerk 
of the United States District Court, for val- 
uable suggestions in preparing the matter on 
naturalization. 



For new acts since the codification, see page 106 and the fol- 
lowing pages. On page 117 toill he found Act of Congress pro- 
viding for publicity of contributions made for influencing elec- 
tion of Representatives in Congress, the so-called McCall bill. 

For summary of this year's Acts, see Appendix aeioe. 



185 Mass. 86 
198 Mass. 340 



TERMS DEFINED. 

181 Mass. 186 Chanter SfiO 

^napter oou. 

An Act to Codify the Laws Relating to 
Caucuses and Elections, 

[Enacted June 26, 1907.] 

Terms defined. Section I, Terms used in this chapter and 

198 Mass. 341, 344 in statutes relative to elections shall be con- 
strued as follows, unless other meaning is 
clearly apparent from language or context, 
or unless such construction is inconsistent 
with the manifest intent of the legislature: 

"Assessors" shall mean the assessors of 
taxes of a city or town. 

"Caucus" shall apply to any public meeting 
of the voters of a precinct, ward, or town, 
held under the provisions of this chapter for 
the nomination of a candidate for election, for 
the election of a political committee or of 
delegates to a political convention. 

"Caucus officer" shall apply to chairmen, 
wardens, secretaries, clerks and inspectors, 
and, when on duty, to additional officers ap- 
pointed or elected, or elected to fill a vacancy, 
and taking part in the conduct of caucuses 
or primaries. 

"City election" shall apply to any election 
held in a city for the choice of a city officer 
by the voters whether for a full term or for 
the filling of a vacancy. 

"City officer" shall apply to any person to 
be chosen by the voters at a city election. 

"Convention" shall apply only to a meet- 
ing of delegates duly chosen in caucuses, rep- 
resenting two or more subdivisions of the 
district for which the convention is held. 

"Election" shall apply to the taking of a 
vote upon a proposed amendment to the con- 



TERMS DEFINED. 

stitution; upon the question of granting Terms defined, 
licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors; 
and upon any other question by law sub- 
mitted to the voters. 

"Election officer" shall apply to wardens, 
clerks, inspectors and ballot clerks, and to 
their deputies when on duty, and also to 
selectmen, town clerks, moderators and tel- 
lers when taking part in the conduct of elec- 
tions. 

"Elective office" shall apply to any office 
to be filled by the voters at any state, city or 
town election. 

"Municipal party" shall apply to a party 
other than a political party which at the 
preceding city or town election polled for 
mayor or a selectman at least three per cent 
of the entire vote cast in the city or town 
for that office or, in a city, which files with 
the city clerk, or in Boston with the election 
commissioners, at least sixty days before the 
annual municipal election, a petition to be 
allowed to place caucus nominations on the 
official ballot, which petition is signed in 
person by a number of registered voters of 
the city equal to at least three per cent of 
the entire vote polled in the city for mayor 
at the preceding election, and so far as muni- 
cipal elections in a city are concerned, such 
a party shall also be deemed a political party 
within the meaning of this chapter; but the 
term "municipal party" shall be used only 
with reference to caucuses for the nomination 
of city or town officers. 

"Official ballot" shall mean a ballot pre- 
pared tor any election, caucus or primary by 
public authority and at public expense. 

"Political committee" shall apply only to a 



TERMS DEFINED. 

Terms defined. committee elected in pursuance of this chap- 

ter. 

"Political convention" shall apply only to a 
convention called and held in pursuance of 
this chapter. 

"Political party" shall apply to a party 
which at the preceding annual state election 
polled for governor at least three per cent 
of the entire vote cast in the Commonwealth 
for that office. 

"Polling place" shall apply to a room or 
place provided by a city or town for an elec- 
tion, caucus, or primary. 

"Presiding officer" shall apply to the warden 
or chairman at a caucus, or primary, to the 
warden, chairman of the selectmen, modera- 
tor, moderator pro tempore or town clerk 
in charge of a polling place at an election, 
or to a justice of the peace acting as modera- 
tor at a town meeting; or, in the absence of 
any such officer, to the deputy warden or the 
clerk or senior inspector or senior selectman 
present who shall have charge of a polling 
place. 

"Primary" shall apply to a caucus of politi- 
cal parties held under the provisions of sec- 
tions one hundred and forty-four to one hun- 
dred and sixty of this chapter. 

"Registrars" shall mean the board of regis- 
trars of voters of a city or town or the board 
of election commissioners of the city of Bos- 
ton, when applicable. 

"State election" shall apply to any election 
held for the choice of a national, state, dis- 
trict or county officer by the voters, whether 
for a full term or for the filling of a vacancy. 

"State officer" shall apply to any person 
to be chosen at a state election. 

"Town election" shall apply to any meeting 

8 



TERMS DEFINED, ETC. 

held for the election of town officers by the Terms defined, 
voters, whether for a full term or for the 
filling of a vacancy. 

"Town elections or meetings at which of- 
ficial ballots are used" shall be construed to 
mean town elections or meetings in towns 
to which section three hundred and ninety- 
two applies. 

"Town officer" shall apply to any person 
to be chosen at a town meeting. 

"Two leading political parties" shall apply 
to the political parties which cast the highest 
and next highest number of votes for gov- 
ernor at the preceding annual state election. 

"Voter" shall mean a registered male voter. 

Section 2. In all elections of civil officers Election results, 
by the people, the person receiving the highest how determined, 
number of votes for an office shall be deemed 
and declared to be elected to such office; and 
if two or more persons are to be elected to 
the same office, the several persons, to the 
number to be chosen to such office, receiving 
the highest number of votes, shall be deemed 
and declared to be elected; but persons re- 
ceiving the same number of votes shall not 
be deemed to be elected if thereby a greater 
number would be elected than are by law to 
be chosen. 

Section 3. Provides that elections in cities 
shall be held on Tuesdays. 

Sundays and Holidays. 
Section 4. In computing the period of Period of time, 
time prescribed in any statute relating to *?£ tl ™™fi££ In 
elections, Sundays and holidays shall gener- 
ally be included; but when the last day of 
such period falls on a Sunday or on a holi- 
day the succeeding day shall be considered the 



ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. 



Whenever the day final day of such period; and when the first 
day of such period falls on a Sunday or on a 



election falls on 
holiday. 



As amended, Acts 
1910, Chap. 44. 
Amendment in 
italics. 



Powers and duties 
of Election 
Commissioners. 



Registration, etc., 
to be presumed to 
be regular in 
criminal 
prosecutions. 



holiday, the day preceding shall be consid- 
ered the first day of the period. 

Whenever the day of the week designated 
for a primary or election falls upon a holiday, 
said primary or election shall be held on the 
day succeeding said holiday. 

Section 5. Provides that employees shall 
be allowed time for voting. 

Section 6. Prohibits the sale of intoxicating 
liquors on election days. 

Section 7. Provides for posting lists, no- 
tices and copies of laws relating to elections. 

Election Commissioners. 
Section 8. All the powers and duties relat- 
ing to caucuses, primaries or elections by law 
vested in and imposed upon the mayor and al- 
dermen or either of them, the city clerk or the 
board of registrars of voters in cities, except- 
ing the power and duty of giving notice of 
elections, and fixing the days and hours of 
holding the same, shall, in the city of Boston, 
be vested in and performed by the board of 
election commissioners of said city, who shall 
be subject to all penalties prescribed for 
failure to perform the said duties. 

Section g. Empowers aldermen, election 
commissioners and selectmen to make regula- 
tions not inconsistent with the provisions of 
this chapter relative to the use of ballot 
boxes, seals, etc. 

Criminal Prosecutions. 

Section 10. If, in a criminal prosecution 
for the violation of any law relating to the 
assessment, qualification or registration of 
voters, or to voting lists or ballots or mat- 
ters pertaining thereto, the defendant relies 

10 



CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS. 

upon the invalidity, informality or irregular- Registration, etc., to 
ity of such assessment, qualification or regis- £ Smlfpro^* 1 ' 
tration, or of such voting lists or ballots, or ceedings. 
matters pertaining thereto, he shall prove 
such invalidity, irregularity or informality; 
and until such proof, the presumption shall be 
that such assessment, qualification or regis- 
tration, or such voting lists or ballots or 
matters pertaining thereto, are valid, formal 
and regular, and in accordance with law; but 

the validity, regularity or formality of such but may be 

assessment, qualification or registration of proved in any other 

- , , . t . i n .. legal manner, 

voters, or of such voting lists or ballots, or 

matters pertaining thereto, may also be 
proved in any other legal manner. 

Section n. If, in a criminal prosecution Caucus, etc., to be 

for the violation of any law relating to Presumed regular 

,*',.. in criminal 

primaries, caucuses or elections or matters prosecutions. 

pertaining thereto, the defendant relies upon 
the invalidity, irregularity or informality of 
any caucus, primary or election, or upon the 
failure or neglect of any officer or person to 
do any act in relation to any primary, caucus 
or election or matters pertaining thereto, he 
shall prove such invalidity, irregularity, in- 
formality, failure or neglect; and until such 
proof, the presumption shall be that such pri- 
mary, caucus or election or matters pertain- 
ing thereto were valid, regular and formal 

and that such officer or person acted as pre- „ . , . .. 

r # f Certain testimony 

scribed by law. The testimony of the clerk to be held as prima 
of the city or town, or in Boston the election facie evidence, 
commissioners, wherein it is alleged that such 
election was held, or of the presiding officer, 
secretary or clerk of such primary or caucus, 
that such primary, election or caucus was 
actually held, shall be prima facie evidence 

that the same was regularly and duly held; — Dut \, ma y De .. 
u i 11. TJ-.L i -a. * • v.j. 'proved in any other 

but the validity, regularity or formality of legal manner. 

11 



QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS. 

such primary, caucus or election or matters 
pertaining thereto may also be proved in any 
other legal manner. 

Qualifications of Voters. 

Sal" voters" ° f Section 12. Every male citizen of 'twenty- 

one years of age or upwards, not being a 
pauper or person under guardianship, who is 
able to read the constitution of the Common 
wealth in the English language and to write 
his name, and who has resided within the 
Commonwealth one year and within the city 
or town in which he claims a right to vote, 
six calendar months last preceding a state, 
city or town election, may have his name 
entered upon the list of voters in such city 
or town, and shall have the right to vote 
therein in any such election or in any meet- 
ing held for the transaction of town affairs 
upon complying with the requirements here- 
inafter set forth; and, except as above pro- 
vided, no male person shall have his name 
entered upon the list of voters or have the 
right to vote, except that no person who is 
prevented from reading or writing as afore- 
said by a physical disability, or who had the 
'right to vote on the first day of May in the 
year eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, shall, 
if otherwise qualified, be deprived of the right 
to vote by reason of not being able so to 
read or write; and no person who, having 
-soldiers, etc., re- served in the army or navy of the United 
ceiving aid, not dis- states in the time of war, has been honor- 
qualified. ably d i gc harged from such service, if other- 
wise qualified to vote, shall be disqualified 
therefor on account of receiving or having 
received aid from any city or town; and 
further, no person, otherwise qualified to vote 
re"sidenfe. for national or state officers shall, by reason 

12 



QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS. 

of a change of residence within the Common- Qualification of 

wealth, be disqualified from voting for such voters * 

officers in the city or town from which he Voter not disquali . 

has removed his residence until the expiration fied until expiration 

of six calendar months from the time of such ?f m s e ix of m re^aL° m 

removal. 

Section 13. Every female citizen having — of female 
the qualifications of a male voter required vo ers ' etc ' 
by the preceding section may have her name 
entered upon the list of voters for school 
committee, and shall have the right to vote 
for members of the school committee upon 
complying with the requirements hereinafter 
set forth. 

Section 14. A person qualified to vote in a ^ lace °{ registra- 
., , j- -j j • \ j x- tion and of voting, 

city or town divided into wards or voting 

precincts shall be registered and be entitled 
to vote in the ward or voting precinct in 
which he resided on the first day of April As amen ded, word 
preceding the election, or, if he became an April inserted in 
inhabitant of such city or town after such P A ^ iQ0<^°ch. 44o! 
first day of April, in the ward or voting pre- Sc. 2. Amendment 
cinct in which he first became a resident. in italics - 

Assessment of Poll Taxes and Lists of 
Persons Assessed. 
Section 15. The assessors, assistant -asses- Assessors, etc., to 
sors, or one or more of them, shall annually, make lists of per 

. 7 , r ... ' .,,. . ,, .sons liable for poll 

m April or May, visit every building m their tax. 

respective cities and towns and, after dili- 

. . . , „ , , ,. , ... As amended. Acts 

gent inquiry, shall make true lists containing, 1909, Chap. 440, 
as nearly as they can ascertain, the name, ^c- 5. Amendments 
age, occupation and residence, on the first day 
of April in the current year, and the residence 
on the first day of April of the preceding year, as amended, See 

of everv male person twenty years of age or 4f I s * 90 ^' ? h - -, 
.-,..,,. .. ... ,440, Sc. 2. Amend- 

up wards, residing in their respective cities and m ents in italics. 

towns, liable to be assessed for a poll tax; 

and, except in Boston, shall inquire at the 

residences of the women voters whose names 

13 



ASSESSMENT OF POLL TAXES AND LISTS 

are contained in the list transmitted to them 
by the registrars under the provisions of sec- 
tion forty-four whether such women voters 
are resident thereat, and shall thereupon make 
true lists of the women voters found by them. 
Any inmate of the Soldiers' Home in the 
city of Chelsea shall have the same right as 
any other resident of that city to be assessed 
and to vote therein. 

The assessors shall, upon the personal ap- 
Correction of plication of an assessed person for the cor- 

errors, rection of any error in their orignal lists, and 

whenever informed of any such error, make 
due investigation, and, upon proof thereof, 
As amended, word correct the same on their books. When in- 
April inserted in formed of the omission of the name of a 
place of word May. . .. . .. 

Acts 1909, Ch. 440. person who is averred to have lived n the 
Sc - . 2 - Amendment c fty or town on the first day of April in the 
current year, and to have been asessed there 
in the preceding year, they shall make due 
4s amended Acts investigation, and, upon proof thereof, supply 
1909, Ch. 344. Sc. the omission on their books, and except in Bos- 

iialici m * n(JmCnt ** to "> gire ir,imcdiafe notice thereof to the re;iis- 
trar of voters. They shall cause all applica- 
tions, certificates, and affidavits received by 
them under this section to be preserved for 
two vears. 



Preservation of 
papers. 



See acts 1909, Ch. Sections 16-18. Relate to the duties of as- 
440, be. 1. sessors in the preparation and transmission 

to the registrars of the list of persons as- 
sessed, except in Boston. 

As amended, word Section 19. If a male person resident in a 
place o^word May. c ^y or town, except Boston, on the first day 
Acts 1909, Ch. 440. f .1 pril was not a-sessed for a poll tax, he 
Sc. 2. Amendment , ,, . , , , ,. , , . . , , , 

in italics. shall, in order to establish his right to as- 

sessment, present to tne assessors before the 
close of registration a statement under oath 
that he was on said day a resident of such 



ASSESSMENTS. 

city or town and liable to pay a poll tax A Q 1 s 1 | ss ^ ent a ^e r 
therein, and a list under oath of his polls and April 1. ' 
estate and shall also produce before the as- 
sessors two witnesses, who shall testify, un- 
der oath, that they are voters of the ward 
or town in which such person desires to be 
registered and that the statement of the ap- 
plicant is true. 

A male person who becomes a resident of a Assessment of a 
city or town, except Boston, after the first person who becomes 
, , , ., if- , • , j resident of a city 

day of April and desires to be registered as or town after 

a voter shall present to the assessors a state- April 1. 
ment under oath that he has been a resident 
of such city or town for six months immedi- 
ately preceding the election at which he 
claims the right to vote, and shall produce 
before the assessors two witnesses, who shall 
testily -under oath that they are voters of 
the ward or town in which such person de- 
sires to be registered and that the statement As amended, word 
of the applicant is true. If the assessors are April inserted in 
satisfied that such statements are true, they \ c t & 1909, Ch. 44o! 
shall, in the first case, assess such applicant Be. 2. Amendment 
for his polls and estate and give him a certifi- 
cate of assessment, and in the second, give 
him a certificate that he has been a resident 
in such city or town the six months preceding 
such election, and forthwith notify the reg- 
istrars of voters of the city or town, if in 
this Commonwealth, where such person re- 
sided on the first day of April, that they have 
given such certificate. 

Section so. The assessors, except in Bos- Records to be kept, 
ton, shall enter the name and residence of 
each person thus assessed or certified in a 
v book provided for that purpose, and opposite 
to each name, the names, occupations and 
residences of the persons who have testified 
as above provided. 

15 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 



Copies of certain 
sections to be 
posted. 



Assessors to hold 
sessions. 



Certain assess- 
ments subject to 
certain provisions. 



See Acts 1909, 



In every place where voters are registered, 
the registrars, in Boston the election com- 
missioners, and in every place where oaths 
are administered as required by this chapter, 
the assessors, shall post in a conspicuous 
place a copy of sections four hundred and 
twenty and four hundred and twenty-two, 
printed on white paper with black ink, in 
type not less than one quarter of an inch 
wide. 

Section 21. The assessors shall hold such 
day and such evening sessions as shall be nec- 
essary to carry out the provisions of the two 
preceding sections. 

Section 22. All assessments made in ac- 
cordance with section nineteen shall be sub- 
ject to the provisions of section seventy-four 
of chapter twelve of the Revised Laws, and 
shall be entered in the tax list of the collector 
of taxes and be collected by him according to 
law. 

Section 23. Provides for the transmission 
to the registrars of voters of lists of deceased 
persons, and to the election commissioners of 
lists of criminals, paupers, and insane, who 
had a last known residence in Boston. 

Sections 24-35. Relate to the appointment 



Chap. 440. 8c. 2, 6. an( j d u ti e s of registrars of voters. 



Registration of Voters. 
Section 36. The registrars shall hold such 
day and such evening sessions as the town 
by a by-law or the city by an ordinance shall 
prescribe, and such other sessions as they 
deem necessary. 

They shall hold at least one session at some 
preceding first cau- suitable and convenient place in every city or 



Registrars to hold 
sessions for 
registration. 
181 Mass. 188 
1 Op. A. G. 54 

-to hold session 



cus preceding state 
election. 



town on or before the Saturday last preceding 
the first caucus or primary preceding the an- 



REGISTRATION OP VOTERS. 

nual state election, to give an opportunity to Registration, 
qualified voters to register. 

In cities, they shall hold a continuous ses- — in cities, 
sion from twelve o'clock noon until ten o'clock 
in the evening on the twentieth day preceding 
the annual state election, and a like continu- 
ous session on the twentieth day preceding 
the annual city election. 

In towns, they shall hold a continuous ses- i n towns. 

sion from twelve o'clock noon until ten o'clock 
in the evening on the Saturday last but one 
preceding the annual state election, and a 
like continuous session on the Saturday last 
but one preceding the annual town meeting. 
In towns divided into voting precincts they — in towns divided 
shall, not more than twenty days before the int0 P re cincts. 
annual state election and also not more than 
twenty days before the annual town meeting, 
but in each case on or before the last 
day fixed for registration, hold at least one 
session at some suitable place within the 
limits of each voting precinct. In towns not 
divided into voting precincts, they shall, not — in towns not 
more than twenty days before the annual cincts d Int ° PI " e " 
state election and also not more than twenty 
lays before the annual town meeting, but 
in each case on or before the last day fixed 
for registration, hold sessions in one or more 
mitable places. If, in any such town ten or — if voters in local- 
more voters residing in or near a village or j^ies^from usu^l 
locality distant two or more miles from the place of registra- 
usual place of registration shall, not less than se°s?ioSs" ti0n f ° F 
?ighteen days before the annual state election 
)r the annual town meeting, file a petition 
vith the town clerk stating that in such vil- 
age or locality there are at least ten citizens 
vho are entitled and desire to be registered, 
;he registrars shall hold a session at some 

17 



Close of registra- 
tion in cities. 



Registration for a 
special election. 



When final day 
falls on Sunday or 
holiday. 



Examination of 
applicants by 
singls registrar. 



Entry and correc- 
tion of names on 
register after close 
of registration. 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

suitable place in such village or locality be- 
fore the last day fixed for registration. The 
time and place of registration shall be the 
same for male and female applicants. 

Section 37. In every city, registration shall 
cease at ten o'clock in the evening on the 
twentieth clay preceding the annual state elec- 
tion, and at ten o'clock in the evening on the 
twentieth day preceding the annual city 
election. In every town, registration shall 
cease at ten o'clock in the evening on the 
Saturday last but one preceding the annual 
state election, and at ten o'clock in the even- 
ing on the Saturday last but one preceding 
the annual town meeting. 

Section 38. The registrars shall, in some 
suitable place, hold a continuous session from 
twelve o'clock noon until ten o'clock in the 
evening, on the fourth day, or in Boston on 
the seventh day, preceding a special election. 
Registration shall cease at ten o'clock in the 
evening of the day on which such session is 
held. 

Section 39. If the final day for registra- 
tion of voters falls on Sunday or on a holi- 
day, the day preceding such Sunday or holi- 
day shall be the final day for such registra- 
tion. 

Section 40. Any registrar may, at a place 
appointed for registration, on the days and 
during the hours designated for the purpose, 
receive applications for registration and ex- 
amine applicants and witnesses under oath; 
but all doings of one registrar shall be sub- 
ject to the revision and acceptance of the 
board. 

Section 41. The registrars shall not, after 
ten o'clock in the evening of a day on which 



18 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

registration is to cease, register any person 
as* a voter until after the next election, but 
they may enter or correct upon the registers 
the names of persons whose qualifications as 
voters have been examined between the pre- 
ceding thirtieth day of April and the close 
of registration and, except in Boston, they 
shall compare all notices of omitted assess- 
ments transmitted to them by the assessors 
under the provisions of section fifteen of this 
chapter, as amended by section one of this act, 4, s amended. Acts 
with the annual register of voters for the pre- 1000, Ch. 344, S. 2. 

j ., ., , , 7 . , . , Amendment, in 

vious year, and if it appears to their satis fac- italics. 

Hon that any of said omitted assessments is 
that of a person entitled to vote in such previ- 
ous year they may, before the close of registra- 
tion, enter such name on the current annual 
register. They shall, in every case, require the 
vote by virtue of which such entry or correc- 
tion is made to be attested by their clerk. 

Section 42. They shall post or publish no- 
tices stating the places and hours for holding: Notices for all ses- 

„ ° ,. 5. 1 • ■>• sions of registration 

all sessions, the final sessions preceding any to be given. 

election, and that after ten o'clock in the 
evening of the last day fixed for registration 
they will not, until after the next election, 
add any name to the registers except the 
names of voters examined as to their qualifi- 
cations between the preceding thirtieth day 
of April and the close of registration. 

Sections 43-44- Provide for the keeping of See acts 1909, Ch. 
records of voters and the preparation of an- 440, 8c. 2. 
nual registers. 

Section 45. Every person, male or female, Applicant for 
whose name has not been entered in the an- registration to 
nual register in accordance with the preced- 
ing section, or in accordance icith the provi- As amended, Acts 
■ r .. r . , .,. , f 1909, Ch. 344, Sc. 

sions of section forty-one of this chapter as 3 Amendment in 

amended, must, in order to be registered as a Italics. 



Applicant to prove 
assessment, etc. 



As amended, icord 
April inserted in 
place of word May. 
Acts 1909, Ch. 440. 
Sc. 2. Amendment 
in italics. 



Examination of 
applicant relative 
to qualifications as 
a voter. 



Constitution to be 
printed on slips, 
etc.. to be read by 
applicant 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

voter, apply in person for registration and 
prove that he is qualified to register. • 

Section 46. Every male applicant for regis- 
tration, except in Boston, whose name has 
not been transmitted to the registrars as pro- 
vided in section sixteen shall present a tax 
bill or notice from the collector of taxes, or 
a certificate from the assessors showing that 
he was assessed as a resident of the city or 
town on the preceding first day of April, or a 
certificate that he became a resident therein 
at least six months preceding the election at 
which he claims the right to vote, and the 
same shall be prima facie evidence of his 
residence. In Boston every such applicant 
whose name has not been transmitted to the 
election commissioners as provided by law 
shall present a certificate from the listing 
board as provided by law, and the same shall 
be prima facie evidence of his residence. 

Section 47. The registrars shall examine 
under oath an applicant for registration rela- 
tive to his qualifications as a voter, and shall, 
unless he is prevented by physical disability, 
or unless he had the right to vote on the first 
day of May in the year eighteen hundred and 
fifty-seven, require him to write his name in 
the general register and to read in such man- 
ner as to show that he is neither prompted 
nor reciting from memory. Registrars shall 
be provided by the secretary of the Common- 
wealth with a copy of the constitution of the 
Commonwealth printed on uniform pasteboard 
slips, each containing five lines of said con- 
stitution printed in double small pica type. 
The registrars shall place said slips in the 
box provided by the secretary of the Com- 
monwealth, which shall be so constructed as 
to conceal them from view. Each applicant 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

shall be required to draw one of said slips 
from the box and read aloud the five lines 
printed thereon, in full view and hearing of 
the registrars. Each slip shall be returned 
to the box immediately after the test is 
finished, and the contents of the box shall be 
shaken up by a registrar before another 
drawing is made. No person failing to read 
the constitution as printed on the slip thus 
drawn shall be registered as a voter. The 
registrars shall keep said slips in said box at 
all times. The secretary of the Common- 
wealth shall upon request provide new slips 
to replace those worn out or lost. 

Section 48. If an applicant for registration Registration of 
is a naturalized citizen, the registrars shall citizens^etc 
require him to produce for inspection his 
papers of naturalization, and to make oath 
that he is the identical person named therein, 
and shall, if satisfied that the applicant has 
been legally naturalized, make upon his 
papers a memorandum of the date of such 
inspection. If papers of naturalization have 
once been examined and record thereof made 
in the general register, the registrars need 
not again require their production. 

Section 49. If, upon examination, the reg- —if a minor, 
istrars are satisfied that an applicant for 
registration has all the qualifications of a 
voter, except that of age, and that he will on 
or before the day of the next election or town 
meeting, attain full age, they shall place his 
name upon the registers. 

Section 50. If the registrars decline to reg- if applicant is 
ister the name of a person examined for regis- Te ^.^ e ^' t0 be 
tration and reported to them therefor by a 
registrar, they shall notify him of their re- 
fusal, and give him a reasonable opportunity 

21 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

to be heard by them upon his application. 
They shall upon the rejection of an applicant 
forthwith inform him of such rejection. 
Revision, etc., of Section 51. The registrars shall, from time 

registers to be made to time, revise and correct the general regis - 
by registrars. ter and the current annual register in accord- 

ance with any facts which may be presented 
to them. They shall strike therefrom the 
name of every deceased person which has been 
transmitted to them by the city or town clerk 
or the registrar of deaths in accordance with 
section twenty-three; but after the name of 
a voter has been placed upon the current 
annual register, they shall not change the 
place of residence as given thereon, nor, un- 
less the voter has deceased, strike such name 
therefrom, until they have sent him a notice 
of their intention so to do and that he may 
be heard on a certain day named therein. 

Section 52. If a registered voter complains 
to the registrars or election commissioners, in 
writing under oath in a city fourteen days 
at least, or in a town four days at least, be- 
fore an election or town meeting, that the 
complainant has reason to believe and does 
believe that a certain person by him therein 
named has been illegally or incorrectly regis- 
tered, and setting forth the reasons for such 
belief, the registrars, or election commissioners 
shall examine into such complaint, and if sat- 
isfied that there is sufficient ground therefor, 
they shall summon the person complained of 
to appear before them at a certain place and 
time before the next election or town meet- 
ing to answer to the matters set forth in the 
complaint, and the substance of the com- 
plaint and a copy of this and the following 
section shall be set forth in the summons, 
-service of sum- ^.^ of ^ gummong ghall be made by an 



Illegal or Incorrect 
registration. 



— complaint of, to 
be examined into. 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

officer qualified to serve civil or criminal pro- 
cess, not more than fourteen nor less than 
two days before the day named for appear- 
ance, by delivering in hand a copy of the 
summons to the person therein summoned, or 
by leaving it at the place of alleged illegal 
or incorrect registration, if no later residence 
of such person appears on the register, and 
in that event at such later residence if the 
officer finds that such person resides at such Illegal or incor- 
place or later residence, as the case may De, rect re S lstr a tlon - 
or if he was formerly there and has changed 
his residence, then by leaving it at the place 
to which he has moved, if it is within the 
officer's jurisdiction and can be ascertained by 
inquiry at such place or later residence; but 
if the officer cannot make personal service, 
and cannot ascertain the residence of the 
person complained of, the copy of the sum- 
mons shall be left at such person's last resi- 
dence, if any, known to the officer within his 
jurisdiction; and the officer shall return the 
summons to the registrars or election com- 
missioners before the day named for appear- 
ance, with the certificate of his doings in- 
dorsed thereon. 

Section 53. If a person summoned before Examination by 
the registrars or election commissioners to registrars, 
answer to such complaint appears before 
them, they shall examine him under oath, and 
shall receive other evidence which may be 
offered in regard to the matters set forth in 
the complaint, and if satisfied that he is prop- jf voter is found to 
erly registered as a qualified voter they shall be properly regis- 
enter in the register a statement of their de- rem ain. 
termination upon the facts required for regis- 
tration. If the registrars or election com- if voter is found 

missioners are satisfied that he is not a quali- to be incorrectly 

registered, name to 
fied voter in the city or town, they shall be stricken off. 

23 



Examination by 
registrars. 



Notice of errors 
to be sent to 
assessors. 



— provision not to 
apply to Boston. 

Sessions and rec- 
ords to be open. 



REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

strike his name from the register. If they 
are satisfied that, although he is a qualified 
voter in the city or town, he is illegally or 
incorrectly registered in a ward or voting 
precinct other than the ward or voting pre- 
cinct in which he is required to be registered 
as provided in section fourteen, and are satis- 
fied as to which ward or voting precinct he is 
s required to be registered in, and as to his 
place ot residence in such ward or voting 
precinct, they shall change his place of resi- 
dence as given on the register accordingly. 
If a person duly summoned as aforesaid does 
not appear as directed in the summons, the 
complainant shall produce sufficient testimony 
to make out a prima facie case, and if this 
is done the name of the person complained 
of shall be stricken from the register; but 
if such person appears before the registrars or 
election commissioners before the election or 
town meeting next ensuing and shows suf- 
ficient cause for his failure earlier to appear, 
the hearing shall be reopened and the matter 
decided on its merits, as determined from 
the evidence presented on both sides. The 
complainant and the person complained of 
may be represented by counsel, and all wit- 
nesses may be cross-examined. 

Section '54. The registrars shall promptly 
transmit to the assessors of the city or town 
notice of every error which they shall dis- 
cover in the name or residence of a person 
assessed therein. The provisions of this sec- 
tion shall not apply to Boston. 

Section 55. The registrars or election com- 
missioners shall perform their duties in open 
session, and not secretly. They shall dis- 
tinctly announce the name of every applicant 
for registration before entering hia name on 



REGISTRATION— VOTING LISTS. 

the general register. Their records shall at 
suitable times be open to public inspection. 

Section 56. All written complaints and Written complaints, 
certificates received by the registrars or elec- etc., to be preserved 
,. . . j n xi, j .for two years, 

tion commissioners, and all other documents 

in their custody relative to registration, shall 
be preserved by them for two years after the 
respective dates thereof. 

Section 57. A registrar or election com- Authority given to 
. • u n 1 ,1 •, i c enforce order, etc. 

missioner shall have authority to enforce reg- 
ularity in all proceedings before him, and to 
maintain order in and about the place where 
a session is held, or applications for registra- 
tion are received, and to keep the access 
thereto open and unobstructed. 

Section 58. The board of police or officer Police to attend 
in charge of the police force of a city or town W fg c j a i s 
shall, when requested by the registrars or 
election commissioners, detail a sufficient 
number of police officers to attend any meet- 
ing held by a registrar in the performance of 
his duties, and to preserve order and enforce 
his directions. 

Section 59. The governor, with the advice Governor to ap- 
, ' , ,, s ' , „ ,, point supervisors 

and consent of the council, shall, on the f registration 
petition of not less than ten qualified voters upon petition, etc. 
of a city or town, appoint for a term of one 
year, two supervisors of registration for each 
place of registration therein, one from each 
of the two leading political parties.. They 
shall attend all sessions or meetings for "reg- 
istration held at the places for which they 
are appointed, and either of them may attach 
to any book or papers there used for purposes 
of registration any statement touching the 
truth or fairness of the proceedings which he 
may deem proper, and may add thereto his 
signature or other marks for the purpose of 
identification. 

25 



Bee ads 1909, Ch. 
440, Sc. 2. 



Registrars to fur- 
nish copy of vot 
ing list for use 
at caucus. 



Listing board in 
Boston, ho^ 
composed. • 



Section 70 amend- 
ed, acts 1903, Ch. 
480, see paiie 131. 
See acts 1909, Ch. 
440, Sc. 2. 

Listing of persons 
— not listed April 1 



LISTING AND REGISTRATION 

Section 60-68. Relate to the preparation of 
voting lists. 

Voting Lists for Use at Caucuses. 
Section 67. When a caucus is called the 
registrars shall, on request of the chairman 
of the ward or town committee of the party 
whose caucus is to be held or of the person 
designated to call the caucus to order, fur- 
nish him for use in the caucus a certified copy 
of the voting list of the town, or of the ward 
of the city for which the caucus is to be held, 
as last published, "adding thereto the names 
of voters registered since such publication. 
Listing Board. 
Section 69. In Boston there shall be a list- 
'ihg-b>ard composed of the police commissioner 
of said city and one member of the board of 
election commissioners, who shall annually 
be appointed by the mayor, without confirma- 
tion by the board of aldermen, for the term 
of one year, and who shall belong to that one 
of the two leading political parties of which 
said police commissioner is not a member. In 
case of disagreement between the two mem- 
bers of said board, the chief justice of the 
municipal court of the city of Boston, or, in 
case of his disability, the senior justice of 
said court who is not disabled, shall for the 
purpose of settling such disagreement, be a 
member of said board and shall preside and 
cast' the deciding vote, in case of a tie. 

Sections 70-72. Relate to the duties of the 
listing board in listing of voters, etc. 

Listing and Registration of Voters in Boston. 
Section 73. If a male person, twenty years 
of age or upwards, resident in Boston on the 
first day of April, was not listed by the board, 



OF VOTERS IN BOSTON. 

he shall, in order to establish his right to be 
listed, appear before a member of the board, 

the superintendent, a deputy superintendent , , , 

. , «. i. « * i As amended, word 

or an inspector of police, who are hereby au- April inserted in 
thorized to administer oaths for this purpose, place of word May. 
, , , ,, , . t. • ' ..Acts 1909, Ch. 440. 

and present under oath a statement m. writ- ^c. 2. Amendment 

ing that he was on said day a resident of in italics. 
said city, giving his name, age, occupation and 
residence on the first day of April in the cur- 
rent year, and his residence on the first day 
of April in the preceding year. 

A male person, twenty years of age or up- Listing of persons 
wards, who becomes a resident of said city ^t^Tp^^ 6111 
after tne first day of April, and desires to be 
listed, shall appear before a member of the 
board, the superintendent, a deputy superin- 
tendent or an inspector of police, who are 
hereby authorized to administer oaths for this 
purpose, and present under oath a statement 
in writing that he became a resident of said 
city at least six months immedately preced- 
ing the election at which he claims the right 
to vote, giving his name, age, occupation and 
residence on the above date, and his residence 
on the first day of April in the preceding year. 

If the board, after investigation, is satis- If board Is satisfied 
„,.,.. , , , , i «i v « applicant to receive 

fied that such statements are true, it shall certificate. 

give such applicant a certificate that he was 
a resident of said city on said first day of 
April, or a certificate that he became a resi- 
dent at least six months immediately preced- 
ing such election, as the case may be, which 
certificate shall state his name, age, occupa- 
tion and residence on the first day of April 
in the current year or on the obove date, as 
the case may be, and his residence on the 
first day of April in the preceding year; but 
no such application shall be received later 

27 



Listing board to 
post copy of sec- 
tion 420. 



See arts 1009, Ch. 
440, Sc. 2. 



Office hours of po- 
lice commissioner. 



See arts 1009, Ch. 
440, -Sc. 2. 



Application for 
registration must 
be made In person. 



Election department 
of Boston to be 
under charge of 
election 
commissioners. 

— to consist of four 
citizens and voters 
appointed by mayor. 

Acts applicable. 



LISTING— ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. 

than the first day of September, and no such 
person shall be listed or be given such certifi- 
cate later than the twentieth day of Sep- 
tember. 

In every place where oaths are adminis- 
tered tor the purpose of listing, the board 
shall post in a conspicuous place a copy of 
section four hundred and twenty, printed on 
white paper with black ink, in type not less 
than one quarter of an inch wide. 

Section 74. Provides that the listing board 
shall keep a record of all applicants for list- 
ing under the provisions of section 73, which 
shall be open to public inspection. They shall 
cause to be printed in some newspaper in 
Boston the name of each applicant, etc. 

Section 75. The police commissoner shall 
have his office open during such hours as shall 
be necessary to carry out the provisons of 
the two preceding sections. 

Section 76. Relates to the preparation of 
an annual register in Boston by the election 
commissioners. 

Section 77. Every person, male or female, 
whose name has not been entered in the an- 
nual register in accordance with the preceding 
section, must, in order to be registered as a 
voter, apply in person for registration and 
prove that he is qualified to register. 
Election Commissioners. 

Section 78. The- election department of 
Boston shall be under the charge of a board 
of election commissioners consisting of four 
citizens and voters of Boston who shall be 
appointed by the mayor without confirmation 
by the board of aldermen; and chapter two 
hundred and sixty-six of the acts of the year 
eighteen hundred and eighty-five, and all 

28 



POLITICAL COMMITTEES. 

other acts relating to departments of Boston 
or the officers and employees thereof, not in- 
consistent herewith, shall be applicable to 
said department and the officers- and em- 
ployees thereof. 

sections 79-80. Kelate to the appointment, See arts 1909, Ch. 
term of office, etc., of the election commis- 
sioners. 

Section 81. Said board shall constitute the Election commis- 
Boston ballot law commission, and shall in sion to constitute 
11 *4- 1 *• ** i • J j Boston ballot law 

all matters relating to objections and ques- commission. 

tions arising in the case of nominations of 
candidates for city offices have the powers 
and perform the duties prescribed for the bal- 
lot law commission of the commonwealth; and 
when sitting as such, the chief justice of the Chief Justice of 
municipal court of the city of Boston, or in JStaJ 1 ^ ^f re . 0i 
case of his disability the senior justice of said siding officer, 
court who is not disabled, shall be a member 
of said board and shall preside, but shall not 
vote unless the other commissioners are 
equally divded; and in every other matter in 
which the commissioners are equally divided 
said chief justice shall act with them and Powers and duties 
shall cast the deciding vote. of Chief Justice - 

Sections 82-88. ProAdde for making a new Section 82 repealed, 
general register of voters in Boston in 1908, ( _ lcts 



and every twelfth year thereafter, sessions See acts 1909, Ch. 
for registration, the preparation of street i40> 8c - 2 - 
and voting lists, etc. . 

POLITICAL COMMITTEES. 
State Committee. 
Section 89. Each political party shall an- state committee to 
nually elect a state committee, the members be elected annually. 

of which shall hold office for one year from now se iected. 

the first day of 'January next following their 
election and until their successors, shall have term of office - 
organized. Said committee shall consist of — how constituted. 
at least one member from each senatorial 
29 



POLITICAL COMMITTEES. 

district, who shall, except in the Suffolk sena- 
torial districts, be elected at the convention 
held for the nomination of a candidate for 
senator to be voted for in said district at the 
Members for Suffolk annual state election. The members of said 
Senatorial Districts, committee for the Suffolk senatorial districts 
how elected. ghall be elected by direct plurality vote in 

caucuses or primaries and the person who in 
the aggregate of all the ballots cast at all 
such caucuses or primaries in each district for 
such members shall receive the highest num- 
ber of such votes shall oe the member elected. 
The members of the state committee shall, 
in January, meet and organize by the choice 
of a chairman, a secretary, a treasurer and 
such other officers as they may decide to 
elect. 

The secretary of the state committee shall, 
within ten days after such organization, file 
with the secretary of the Commonwealth, 
and send to each city and town committee, 
a list of the members of the committee and 
of its officers. 

A vacancy in the office of chairman, secre- 
tary or treasurer of the committee or in the 
membership thereof shall be filled by the 
committee, and a statement of any such 
change shall be filed as in the case of the 
officers first chosen. 



State Committee, 
when to organize. 



Organization to be 
filed, etc. 



Vacancies. 



Ward and town 
committees to be 
chosen annually. 

— term of office. 

— "in Boston politi- 
cal committees 
shall be elected at 
the State prima- 
ries." Acts m><), 
Oh. 4SG, Sc 34. 



City, Ward and Town Committees. 

Section 90. Each political party shall, in 
every ward and town, annually elect a com- 
mittee to be called a ward or a town com- 
mittee, to consist of not less than three 
persons, who shall hold office for one year 
from the first day of January next following 
their election and until their successors shall 
have organized. 

30 



POLITICAL COMMITTEES. 

The members of the several ward commit- City committee, 
tees of a political party in a city shall con- how constituted - 
stitute a committee to be called a city com- 
mittee. 

Each town committee shall annually, be- Committees, when 
tween the first day of January and the first and n . ow t0 
day of March, and each ward and city com- organiz 
mittee shall, within thirty days after the 
beginning of its terms of office, meet and 
organize by the choice of a chairman, a secre- 
tary, a treasurer and such other officers as 
it may decide to elect. 

The secretary of each city and town com- — when and with 

mittee shall, within ten days after its organ- wnom list of mem 
. ,. £1 .,, ,, , , •,, ,? bers and organiza- 

lzation file with the secretary of the Com- tions to be filed, 
monwealth, with the city or town clerk and 
with -the secretary of the state committee of 
the political party which it represents, a list 
of the officers and members of the commit- 
tee. 

A vacancy in the office of chairman, secre- vacancies, how 
tary or treasurer of a city, ward or town filled, 
committee shall be filled by the committee, 
and a vacancy in the membership of a ward 
or town committee shall be filled by such 

committee, and a statement of any such statement of 

change shall be filed as in the case of the changes to be filed 
officers first chosen. 

Section 91. Upon a re-division of a city Election of ward 
into wards, any political party may in the SnTf Tcft™' 
next succeeding calendar year elect its ward into wards, 
committees for such terms, not exceeding the 
length of the terms for which the former 
committees were chosen, as the city com- 
mittee existing at the time of calling the 
caucuses may determine, and thereafter shall 
elect such committees at the times and for 
the terms prescribed by law. The caucuses 
for the choice of such ward committees shall 

31 



POLITICAL COMMITTEES. 



City committee to 
call caucuses. 



Committees existing, 
etc., to be deemed 
organized. 



Committees may 
make rules for 
their conduct, and 
regulations for 
caucuses, etc 



Independent voter 
not to be excluded 
from caucuses. 



As amended, Acts 
1908, Gh. 428, by 
adding last para- 
graph, as printed 

in Italics. 



be called by the city committee in existence 
at the time, and shall be subject to such rea- 
sonable notice as said city committee shall 
determine. 

Section 92. Committees of any party ex- 
isting at the time when such party at an 
annual state election first polls for governor 
three per cent of the entire vote cast in the 
Commonwealth for that office shall be deemed 
to be organized under these provisions. 

Rules and Regulations. 

Section 93. A state, city or town commit- 
tee may make rules and regulations, not in- 
consistent with law, for its proceedings and 
relative to caucuses called by it, and may 
fix the number of persons of whom it shall 
consist, which number shall be announced in 
the call for the meeting at which they are to 
be chosen. Each city or town committee 
may make reasonable regulations, not incon- 
sistent with law, to determine membership in 
the party, and to restrain persons not entitled 
to vote at caucuses from attendance thereat 
or taking part therein. But no political com- 
mittee shall prevent any voter from partic- 
ipating in a caucus of its party for the rea- 
son that the voter has supported an indepen- 
dent candidate for political office. 

A state committee may make rules and reg- 
ulations not inconsistent with law for calling 
conventions for the nomination of state offi- 
<■< r&. 



PROVISIONS APPLYING 



TO ALL 



CAUCUSES OF POLITICAL PARTIES 



"No primary election or caucus for municipal offices, shall 
be held hereafter in the city of Boston, and all laws related to 
primary elections and caucuses for such offices in said city are 
hereby repealed."— Acts of 1909, Chap. 486, Sec. 52. 

Applying to Boston Only. 



ALL CAUCUSES. 



All Caucuses. 



No caucus Section 94. Except as provided in this 

?rthL a cha I pt er 1 , at " ,d chapter, no caucus or meeting shall be en- 
entitled to nominate titled to nominate a candidate for public 
candidates, etc. office whose na me shall be placed on the 

official ballot, to elect delegates to a political 
convention for the nomination of such can- 
didate, to elect delegates to conventions held 
for election of delegates to national conven- 
tions for the nomination of candidates for 
president and vice president of the United 
States, or to choose a political committee. 

Nominations in dis- Section 95. No nomination of a candidate 
tricts of more than to be yoted for in an electoral district or 
one ward or town. ^.^ containing more than one town or 
more than one -ward of a city, shall be made 
by caucuses, except as provided in section one 
hundred and sixty-six of this chapter. 
All caucuses except Section 96. All caucuses of political parties, 
r r ti mar to S 'a et s C tate e " except primaries -and for special elections, for 
election to be held the choice of delegates to political conven- 
on a day designated tiong w hi c h nominate candidates to be voted 
mitteS. State C ° m " for at the annual state election, and for the 
191 Mass 501 nomination of candidates to be voted for at 

such election, shall be held throughout the 
Commonwealth on a day designated by the 
state committee of the political party for 
which said caucuses are held; and all of 
All delegates, etc. sa [^ delegates shall be elected, and all of 
caucus Cb ° SeD ^ ° ne said candidates shall be nominated, at one 
^-exception in Suf- caucus; provided, that in the county of Suf- 
folk County. folk such caucuses shall be held on the sixth 
Tuesday preceding the election. Such cau- 



ALL CAUCUSES. 



cuses shall be held at the call of the state Copy of call to. 

committee of the political party whose cau- £ es se °£ %^ m ^"re 

cuses are to be held, and the chairman and the caucuses. 

secretary of the state committee of each 

political party shall, at least twenty-one 

days before the date on which the caucuses 

are to be held, forward a copy of the call, 

with designation of date, to the chairman and 

secretary of each city and town committee • 

of their party. 

Section 97. If in a city, except Boston, or Caucuses 
town wherein elections are held by precincts, "may be held by 
the city or town committee of either of the precinc s - 
two leading political parties shall file with 
the aldermen or selectmen, at least two weeks 
prior to the time of holding its caucuses, a 
notice that such party desires to hold its 
caucuses by precincts, the aldermen or select- 
men shall furnish a polling place in each 
precinct for the use of such party, as pro- 
vided in section one hundred and seventeen of 
this chapter, and the caucuses of such party 
shall be held accordingly. 

Section 98. No two political parties shall — no two parties to 
hold such caucuses on the same day. The ^° ld on the same 
party first filing with the secretary of the 191 * Mass# 501 

Commonwealth the copy of the call as above party first filing 

provided shall be entitled to precedence on the copy f ca n entitled 
days named. to precedence. 

Section 99. Caucuses relative to a special — for special 
election shall be held at such time and place elp ctions. 
and subject to such reasonable notice as the 
political committee whose duty it is to pro- 
vide for holding the same may determine. 
Calls therefor shall be issued by the chairman 
and secretary of said political committee. 

Section 100. Every caucus of a political —not valid unless 
, i_ -m r_ 11 1 1 -j. • 1 j called by written or 

party shall be called by a written or printed pr i n ted notice. 

35 



Caucuses 

to be opened at 
appointed hour. 
191 Mass. 501 

— to whom notices 

apply. 

181 Mass. 187 

A person voting in 
the caucus of one 
party cannot vote 
in that of another 
within 12 months. 

— exception in case 
of a caucus of any 
municipal party. 



— not to be pre- 
vented from voting 
if he takes an oath. 



Voter may be. 
challenged. 



ALL CAUCUSES. 

notice. No caucus or meeting of a political 
party not so called shall be recognized as 
valid under this title. It shall be the duty 
of the presiding officer at a caucus to oppn 
such caucus at the hour appointed therefor 
in the notice thereof. 

Section ioi. Notices for caucuses shall ap- 
ply to all members of the political party 
calling them, and to them only. No person 
having voted in the caucus of one political 
party shall be entitled to vote or take part 
in the caucus of another political party with- 
in the ensuing twelve months. Except that 
voting or taking part in the caucuses of any 
municipal party by. any voter shall not affect 
his legal right to vote or to take part in the 
caucuses of any other political party, whether 
national, state or municipal, for any other 
election; and having voted or taken part in 
the caucuses of another political party for 
any previous election, whether city, state or 
national, shall not affect his right to vote or 
take part in the caucuses, of any municipal 
party. No voter shall be prevented from 
voting or participating in any caucus if he 
takes the following oath which shall be ad- 
ministered to him by the presiding officer of 
the caucus: 

You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you 
are a registered voter in this ward (or town) 
and have the legal right to vote in this caucus; 
that vou are a member of the political party hold- 
ing the same, and intend to vote for its candi- 
dates at the polls at the election next ensuing; 
and that you have not taken part or voted in the 
caucus of any other political party for twelve 
months last past. 

Such voter may be challenged like any 
other voter. Any person whose right to vote 
is challenged for any cause recognized by law 
3C 



ALL CAUCUSES. 

shall not be permitted to vote until he ha3 — cannot vote un- 

taken the foregoing oath; and the clerk or tu oatn is taken - 

secretary of the caucus shall make a record 

of the administration of said oath to every — record to be 

person who takes the same, which record shall ma e * 

state whether or not said person voted. Said 

record shall be returned with the proceedings 

of said caucus and shall be prima face evi- R eC0 rd to be prima 

dence in any court that such person took said facie evidence. 

oath and voted in said caucus. 

Section 102. In balloting, the voting lists Voting lists to be 
furnished under the provisions of section used as check lists> 

sixty-seven shall be used as check lists and 
no person shall be entitled to vote or to take No person to vote, 

7 • i j j. etc., whose name Is 

part in a caucus whose name does not appear not on ii S t. 

upon said lists. 

Section 103. The persons receiving the P^ 8 - 11 ^ vote to 
highest number of votes in a caucus shall be 
declared elected or nominated. If there is a In case of a tie vote 
tie vote for delegates to a convention ,or a gates'T^'a' 
place unfilled in a delegation, or a vacancy convention, 
occasioned by inability or neglect of a dele- 
gate elected to attend a convention, such 
vacancies shall be filled only by vote of the 
remaining members of the delegation at a 
meeting called for the purpose. Such meeting 
shall choose a chairman and secretary, and 
the secretary shall notify the secretary of 
the convention of the action taken relative 
to such vacaney, except that, if only one 
delegate or two delegates were to be elected, — if onl y one or two 
the delegate or the remaining delegate, as the e j ec ted. 
case may be, shall fill such vacancy and 
notify the secretary of the convention of such 
action. 

If there is a tie vote for members of a — in case of tie 

ward or town committee, or for caucus of- ™£ for ™ r ? ™ m " 

«, , , -, mittee, or caucus 

ficers, the members or caucus officers elected officers. 
shall fill the vacancy. 

37 



Caucuses 

if a majority of a 
delegation is not 
elected or there Is 
a tie vote for can- 
didates. 



Certificates of elec- 
tion to be sent to 
all delegates, etc., 
within three days 
after caucus is held. 



Returns of caucuses 
at which certain 
direct nominations 
are made. 



— canvassing and 
returning boards. 



ALL CAUCUSES. 

If a majority of a delegation, of a ward or 
town committee, or of caucus officers is not 
elected, or there is a tie vote for candidates 
for an elective office, the caucus shall at once 
proceed to another ballot unless some one 
present entitled to vote objects; in which case 
the caucus shall adjourn to any subsequent 
day. The hour and place shall, if practic- 
able, be the same as that named in the call. 

Section 104. The presiding officer and sec- 
retary or clerk of each caucus shall within 
three week days after its final adjournment 
deliver or send to each delegate to a political 
convention, to each member of a political 
committee, and to each caucus officer a cer- 
tificate of his election, and to each candidate 
for an elective office a notice of his nomination. 

Section 105. Returns of all caucuses of 
political parties at which are made any direct 
nominations for a district comprising more 
than one ward or town shall be made ac- 
cording to the provisions of section one hun- 
dred and thirty-seven. In Boston the elec- 
tion commissioners and in other cities and in 
towns the registrars of voters shall canvass 
said returns and determine the results there- 
of. Except that for the purpose of tabulating 
and determining the results of all such re- 
turns for members of the state committee in 
the Suffolk senatorial districts the chairman 
of the election commissioners of the city of 
Boston, the city clerk of the city of Chelsea, 
and the town clerks of the towns of Revere 
and Winthrop, shall constitute a canvassing 
board for the first district; the election com- 
missioners of the city of Boston and the city 
clerk of the city of Cambridge shall constitute 
such board for the second and third districts; 
and the election commissioners of the city 
of Boston shall constitute such board for the 
3S 



ALL CAUCUSES. 

remaining districts. Said canvassing boards Canvassing boards 
shall meet for such purpose at the office of time and P lace 
the election commissioners in Boston at ten ° 
o'clock in the forenoon of the Monday pre- 
ceding the day on which certificates of nomi- 
nation for senator are required by law to be 
filed with the secretary of the Commonwealth. ' 
Said canvassing boards shall tabulate and — duties of boards, 
determine the results of all such returns, and 
each canvassing board shall certify to the 
facts required by law.. They shall furnish 
to the members of the state committee elected 
in the Suffolk senatorial districts certificates 
of their election and shall send to the secre- 
tary of the state committee of each- political 
party the names and residences of the mem- Caucuses ; 
bers of such party so elected. Recounts of recounts, 
ballots shall be made as provided in section 
one hundred and thirty-nine. In the case of 
candidates for a state office in a district com- 
prising more than one ward and wholly with- 
in any one city, the city clerk, or in Boston 
the election commissioners, shall file in the 
office of the secretary of the Commonwealth 
the certificate of nomination required by law. 
In the case of such candidates for a district 
not wholly within any one city or town, each 
city and town clerk in such district, or in 

Boston the election commissioners, shall file filing certificates, 

in the office of the secretary of the Common- etc 
wealth, in the manner and within the time 
required by law for filing certificates of nomi- 
nation, copies of the record of votes for such 
candidates, and the secretary shall canvass 
them and determine the results thereof. 

Section 106. If there is a tie vote for any Tie votes, 
candidate of a political party nominated 
directly for any office, for a district compris- 
ing more than one ward or town, the vacancy 



conventions. 



ALL CAUCUSES, 
shall be filled by a regularly elected general 
or executive committee representing the elec- 
tion district in which such vote has been cast, 
or, if no such committee exists, by the mem- 
bers of the ward and town committees in 
the wards and towns comprising such district, 
but the vacancy shall be filled only by the 
choice of one of the candidates receiving such 
tie vote. 
is held pre- Section 107. The provisions of law relative 
paratory to national to caucuses of political parties, except those 
of sections one hundred and forty-four to one 
hundred and sixty inclusive of this chapter 
shall apply to caucuses of such parties held 
for the choice of delegates to conventions to 
elect delegates to national conventions for 
the nomination of candidates for president 
and vice president of the United States: 
provided, that such caucuses shall be held by 
wards or towns, and that in Boston and in 
cities and towns in which at any caucuses 
preliminary to the last state election the 
provisions of sections one hundred and twelve 
to one hundfed and forty-three inclusive, were 
in force, there shall be appointed by the city 
or town committees of the several political 
parties to serve at such caucuses of the re- 
spective parties a warden, a clerk, and at 
least five inspectors, and, in wards having 
more than five precincts, such additional in- 
spectors as the city committee may determine, 
such appointments to be made at least ten 
days, and notice thereof to be sent by the 
secretary of the committee to the appointees 
at least seven days, before the date on which 
the caucuses are to be held. A majority of 
-vacancies. the caucus officers so appointed present at a 

caucus may fill vacancies and elect additional 
inspectors as hereinbefore provided. No other 
additional officers shall be appointed. 



caucus officers. 



PROVISIONS APPLYING 



TO 



CAUCUSES OF POLITICAL PARTIES 



AT WHICH OFFICIAL BALLOTS 



ARE NOT USED. 



CAUCUSES NOT USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 



Polling places to be 
provided without 
expense. 



Notices of caucuses 
to be issued by com- 
mittees seven days 
prior to day of 
holding. 



— to be posted or 
published. 



Caucuses . 



— hour for calling 
not to be later 
than 8 p. m. 



— temporary 
chairman. 



Caucuses not Using Official Ballots. 

Section 108. At least two weeks prior to 
the date on which caucuses are to be held, the 
chairman or secretary of the city or town 
committee shall notify the aldermen or the 
selectmen respectively of such date, and said 
aldermen or selectmen shall, at the expense 
of the city or town, provide polling places 
for said caucuses, in case of a city, not less 
than one for each ward; and shall, at least 
ten days prior to the date of said caucus, 
give said chairman or secretary notice of the 
places so provided. 

Section 109. Notices of caucuses, signed 
by the chairman and secretary, shall be is- 
sued by each city and town committee not 
less than seven days prior to the day on 
which they are to be held. The notices shall 
state the place where, and the day and hour 
when, the several caucuses are to be held. 
They shall be conspicuously posted in at least 
five places on the highways or streets, and if 
practicable, in every post office in the city 
or town, or shall be published at least twice 
in one or more local newspapers, if there are 
any. The hour fixed for calling the caucus 
to order shall not.be later than eight o'clock 
in the evening. The notice shall designate 
by name or office the person who shall call 
such caucus to order, and he shall preside 
until a chairman is chosen. If he is absent 
at the time appointed, any member of the 
ward or town committee present shall call 
the caucus to order and preside until a chair- 
man is chosen. The first business in order 
shall be the choice of a chairman, a secretary 



CAUCUSES NOT USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 



and such other officers as the meeting may Caucuses , 

, . -v-r i n organization first 

determine. No person shall serve as a caucus in Q rder 

officer at any caucus in which he is a can- certain persons 

didate for an elective office, or for a nomina- cannot serve as 

tion to an elective office. caucus officers " 

Section no. A ballot shall be taken for Ballot to be taken, 
the choice of any candidate, delegate or mem- 
ber of a political committee, to be selected Polls to be kept 
by such caucus, and the polls shall be kept °P en 30 minutes, 
open at least thirty minutes. 

Section in. The secretary of each caucus Secretary of caucus 
shall forthwith, after the ballots cast therein *° c tr t a ns c f t y or* "own 
have been counted, transmit the said ballots clerk. 
and the check list used at the caucus to the 
city or town clerk, as the case may be, who Ballots to be pre- 
1. -n «. £ t t* j • served 10 days, 

shall preserve them for ten days. If during 

said time ten voters entitled to vote in said 

caucus shall file with said clerk a written 

request so to do, he shall preserve the ballots 

and voting lists for three months, and shall — by request of 10 

produce the same if required by any court of voters 3 mon s- 

justice or convention having jurisdiction or 

authority over the same. 

If within three week days after any caucus — if intention of 
a person who has received votes thereat for contest is filed, till 
nomination or election to any office, delegation determined. 
or political committee shall file a statement 
in writing with the said clerk, claiming an 
election or nomination or declaring an inten- 
tion to contest the election or nomination of 
any other person, the clerk shall preserve the 
ballots for such nomination or office until 
the claim or contest has been finally deter- 
mined. 



43 



CAUCUSES NOT USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 



— candidate or 
agent may be 
present. 



The clerk shall immediately give notice in 
writing to the persons affected and to the 
chairman and secretary of the caucus, fixing 
a time within twenty-four hours thereafter 
and a place at which said ballots will be 
recounted. The chairman and secretary of 
the caucus shall, at said time and place, re- 
count said ballots and determine the questions 
raised. Each candidate affected may be 
present during such recount, or may be rep- 
resented by an agent appointed by him in 
writing. If it shall appear upon a recount 
that persons were nominated or elected other 
than those declared to have been nominated 
or elected, certificates of such change shall 
be made as in the case of the original certifi- 
cate. 



PROVISIONS APPLYING 

TO 

CAUCUSES OF POLITICAL PARTIES 

AT WHICH 

OFFICIAL BALLOTS ARE USED. 

Tlie so-called "Boston Act," mandatory in Boston and 
as reported to the Secretary of the Commonwealth 
adopted by political parties in the following" cities and 

towns: 



By the Republican Party- 
In Cambridge, Waltham, 



Fitchburg, 

Gloucester, 

Maiden, 

Newton, 

Springfield, 



Worcester, 
Attleboro, 
Brookline, 
Hudson, 
Hyde Park, 



Melrose, 

Milton, 

Scituate, 

Sharon, 

Stoughton, 

Wakefield, 

Winchester. 



By the Democratic Party — 
In Cambridge, Worcester, 

Waltham, Brookline, 

Framingham, 



Wakefield, 
Watertown. 



"No primary election or caucus for municipal offices, shall 
be held hereafter in the city of Boston, and all laws related to 
primary elections and caucuses for such offices in said city are 
hereby repealed."— Acts of 1909, Chap. 486, Sec. 52. 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

Caucuses to be Section 112. All caucuses for the election 

called and held as c ca c j ^ l *, 

hereinafter pro- °* caucus officers, of delegates to a conven- 

vided. tion, of a political committee, or for the nomi- 

r.ation of candidates for any state or city 
office in any city or town held by a political 
party which has adopted the provisions of law 
for the use of official ballots shall be called 
and held as hereinafter provided. 
Political parties Section 113. Any city or town committee 

special provisions shall, at the written request of fifty voters, 
for use of official members of its part\, call caucuses of said 
ballots at caucuses. party to determine by ballot whether the 
vn at • 1~<< provisions of law for the use of official ballots 

shall be adopted. The notice of said caucus 
shall state the purpose for which it is called, 
the place, the day and the hour, not earlier 
than six o'clock and not later than half-past 
seven o'clock in the evening, of holding said 
caucus. It shall be issued at least seven 
days prior to the day named therefor, and 
shall be published at least twice in one or 
more local newspapers, if there are any, and 
shall be posted in at least five public places 
in each ward or town.. The polls shall be 
kept open at least one hour. If said caucuses 
shall vote to adopt said previsions, all cau- 
cuses of said political party in said city or 
town shall thereafter be called and conducted 
accordingly. > 

—may revoke ac- Section 114. A political party in a city or 

ceptance after one town which has accepted said special pro- 
visions may, not less than one year after 
the date of the caucus wherein such provisions 
were adopted, revoke such action at a cancus 
called and held in the manner provided in 
the preceding section. Upon the adoption of 
said provisions or upon the revocation of such 
adoption, the secretary of the city or town 
committee of such political party shall, within 

4G 



"BOSTON ACT." 

ten days thereafter, file with the secretary 
of the Commonwealth and with the clerk of 
the city or town and the secretary of the 
state committee of the political party so vot- . 

ing, a notice thereof. 

Time of Holding. 

Section 115. All such caucuses of a politi- Caucuses relating to 
eal party for the choice of a political I com- city ^ or town ^ec- 
mittee in cities, for the choice of candidates same day> 
for a city or town election, and for the choice 
of delegates to a convention to nominate can- 
didates for such election, except caucuses re- 
lating to a special election, shall be held on 
the same day in each city and town. The 
city or town committee shall fix the days for — city or town corn- 
holding all caucuses mentioned in this section, SJJ^* c ^ l8 days 
and all calls for the same shall be issued by 
its chairman and secretary. 

No two political parties shall hold their —no two parties to 
caucuses on the same day. The party first hold same day ' 
filing a copy of the call for a caucus with the — party first filing 
city or town clerk, shall be entitled to pre- ™% r °lg£ c ™ mie(1 
cedence as to the day so fixed. 

Section 116. Notices of caucuses in said Notices of caucuses 
cities or towns shall state the place where ^rtaie^hea n^rnj- 
and the day and hour when nomination papers be i ssue d and filed, 
shall be issued; the place where and the and when the cau- 
earliest day and hour when such nomination cuses s 
papers may be filed, which time shall be not 
less than twenty-four week-day hours suc- 
ceeding three o'clock of the day fixed for 
issuing such papers; the place where and the 
day and hour prior to which such nomination 
papers shall be filed; and the day on which 
the several caucuses will be held, and shall —to be issued 18 
be issued not less than eighteen days prior da y s before caucus - 
thereto. 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

Polling Places, etc. 

Polling places to be Section 117. At least two weeks prior to 
provided at expense the day named for a caucus, the chairman or 
of the city or.town. secretary of the dty or town comm i t tee shall 

give notice of such date to the aldermen or 
to the selectmen, or in Boston to the election 
commissioners, who shall, at least ten days 
prior to such date, notify the city or town 
committee of the places selected for holding 
the caucuses, and shall, at the expense of the 
city or town, provide polling places, in a city 
not less than one for each ward, and in cities 
and towns where elections or caucuses are 
held in voting precincts one in each of such 
precincts, and furnish them with booths, reg- 
istering ballot boxes, guard rails and the like, 
as they are arranged for state elections. 

upon request of ^ twenty-five voters of a ward or of a town 

twenty-five voters shall request in writing at least twelve days 
to be arranged for bef caucug f the political party to 

voting in two lines. . J * r J 

which they belong, the aldermen or selectmen 

shall so arrange the polling place of such 

ward or town as to allow voting to proceed 

in two or more lines at the caucus. 

Notice of caucus to Section 118. At least seven days prior to 

be isued seven days th e <j ay name ^ f or a caucus, the city or town 

before same. .f . * 

committee shall issue a notice that such cau- 
cus will be held, stating the place, the ^ a y 
and the hour of holding the same. The hour 
— hour not to be shall not be earlier than two o'clock in the 
no^la^er^haVYtt) afternoon nor later than half-past seven 
p. m. o'clock in the evening. Notices relative to the 

filing of nomination papers or for caucuses 
Notices to be pub- shall be published at least twice in one or 
lished in news- more local newspapers if there are any. 

papers. 

Nomination Papers, 
Soe page 100, Acts Section 119. The city or town shall pro- 
of 1908, Chapter 85, vide, and the city or town clerk or election 
for new provisions, commissioners shall seasonably prepare, for 

48 



"BOSTON ACT." 

each political party, blank nomination papers City or town to 
for use in the different wards of the city or Provide, etc., blank 

J nomination papers. 
in the town. Such papers shall state the 

place where, and the day and hour prior to dayf place and 6 time 
which signed nomination papers shall be of filing, etc. 
filed. On the back of each, sections one hun- 
dred and twenty to one hundred and twenty- 
six, inclusive, shall be printed. They shall 
be delivered to the chairman or secretary 

of the political committee for whose use to be delivered to 

they have been prepared, and to no other chairman or secre- 
Derson tary of political 

r ' committee only. 

Section 120. Nominations of candidates for 

elective offices, for delegates to a convention, 
for caucus officers, for a ward or town com- Nominations to be 
mittee, and in the Suffolk senatorial districts made by nomination 
for members of a state committee, to be voted P a P ers - 
for at a caucus, shall be made by nomination 1G3 Mass. 539 
papers, as hereinafter provided. Such nomi- 
nations shall be made on the blank nomina- 
tion papers prepared and delivered in accord- _ special pr0 vi s ions. 
ance with the preceding section; and no nom- 
ination paper offered for filing shall be re- 
ceived or shall be valid to which is attached 
any card, paper or other device containing 
the name of a candidate, his written accept- 
ance, or the signature of any voter required 
by this section. Such papers shall be signed 
in person by at least five voters of the ward 
or town in which the caucus is to be held, papers to be signed 
who shall be members of the political party by five voters, mem- 
holding the caucus, and who shall add to their bers of tbe par ' ty - 
signatures the street and number, if any, of 
their residences. Such papers for a district 

composed of more than one ward or town signers to add 

shall be signed by a number of voters equal residence. 

in the aggregate to not less than five voters . , . 

for each ward or town in said district. mo re than one ward 
Nomination papers shall not contain a larger or town, 
number of names of candidates than there are 
49 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 



Nomination papers, persons to be elected. No nomination paper 
—number of names in Boston, and no nomination paper in any 
of candidates other city or town except for a delegate or 

limited. delegates to a convention, shall be valid in 

— not valid without respect to any candidate whose written ac- 
written acceptance ce ptance is not thereon. No vacancy caused 
by the death, withdrawal or ineligibility of 
any of the above candidates in Boston, and 
no such vacancy in any other city or town, 
except for a delegate or delegates to a con- 
vention, shall be filled in the manner pro- 
vided by law, unless the person entitled to 
fill such vacancy files the written acceptance 
of the candidate who is nominated to fill the 



Vacancies 



— exception 

Information rela- 
tive to a candidate 
for an elective 
office may be given 
in not more than 
eight words. 



As amended, Acts 
1910, Ch. 200. 
Amendment in 

italics. 



— residence of can- 
didates for caucus 
office, etc., to be 
given. 



— preferences of 
candidates for dele- 
gates may be given 
in not more than 
eight words. 



vacancy. 

Section 121. The nomination paper for an 
elective office shall give the name of the can- 
didate, the street and number, if any, of his 
residence, and may, in not more than eight 
words, state his occupation, the public offices 
he has held or that he is a candidate for 
renomination, provided that he is at the time 
an incumbent of the office for tohich he seeks 
renomination for another term, but not other- 
vise. 

The nomination paper of a candidate for a 
caucus office, for a ward or town committee 
or for a member of a state committee shall 
state the street and number, if any, of ( his 
residence. 

There may be added to the name of a per- 
son proposed as a delegate to a convention, a 
statement of not more than eight words that 
he is favorable to, or is pledged to support, 
or to oppose, any person for an office to be 
filled, or is favorable to, or opposed to, any 
public measure, or is uncommitted. 

Tf. under the provisions of this section, any 
delegate or set of delegates as described on a 



50 



"BOSTON ACT." 

nomination paper as favorable to, or pledged 

to support, any person for an office to be Statement may be 

filled, such person may, within two week days w hich case paper 

after the announcement thereof, file with the void. 

secretary of the city or town committee a 

written request to have said statement 

stricken from the nomination paper, and the 

secretary shall do the same forthwith, and 

said nomination paper shall thereupon be void 

and of no effect. 

Section 122. All nomination papers shall Papers to be filed 
be sealed up and filed in the office of the with secertary ten 

» ,, .. ... , week-days previous 

secretary of the city or town committee not to caucus . 

less than ten week days previous to the 
day on which the caucus is to be held for 
which the nominations are made, and the 

secretary shall indorse upon them the time time received to 

at which they are received by him. They be endorsed thereon. 

shall not be opened until the time for their to he publicly 

filing has expired, when the secretary, at his opened and result 
office, shall publicly open them and publicly announced, 
announce the nominations therein made. 

Section 123. The secretary of the city or __ in case o£ error 
town committee shall immediately give notice 
to the person filing the nomination paper of r01 . irregularity 6 
any error, irregularity or informality appear- or informality,' 
ing therein, and such person may, within two anvthing^tne ab- 
week days after the time when the nomina- sence of which an- 
tion papers were opened, correct the same, or ^jffes se< ^° effect 
said secretary may make such correction. makes the paper 

Section 124. If, in a city, nomination ^ n f j u a ge Lo- 
papers placing persons in nomination for all throp, Dean et al 
ii «. . tT on -, . • vs. Sands, Sept. 

the offices to be filled at a caucus m. any 2 o, 1898. 

ward are not filed, the secretary of the city - n case of non . 

committee shall forthwith notify the chair- receipt in a city. 
man or secretary of the committee of such 
ward, who shall forthwith call a meeting of 
said committee, which may nominate candi- 
dates for all offices for which nomination 

51 



— in case of non- 
receipt in a town. 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

Nomination papers, papers have, not been filed, and shall imme- 
diately file with the secretary of the city 
f failure committee nomination papers signed by all 
etc.? to me" a ' the members of the committee who agree to 
the nominations therein made. In case of 
disagreement two sets of such nomination 
papers may be filed. If, at the expiration of 
two week days after the time at which nomi- 
nation papers were opened, proper nomination 
papers have not been filed for all the offices 
to be filled, or upon any vacancy caused by 
death or otherwise, except a withdrawal, the 
chairman and secretary of the city committee 
may file nomination papers for such offices or - 
vacancies. 

Section 125. If, in a town, nomination 
papers placing persons in nomination for all 
the offices to be filled at a caucus are not 
filed, or upon a vacancy by death or other- 
wise, except a withdrawal, the chairman or 
secretary of the town committee shall forth- 
with call a meeting of said committee, which 
shall have all the powers relative to the nomi- 
nation of candidates conferred in the pre- 
ceding section upon a ward committee and 
the chairman and secretary of a city com- 
mittee. 

Section 126. A person who is nominated by 
a nomination paper may, within forty-ei^ht 
week-day hours succeeding five o'clock of the 
day fixed for opening nomination papers, 
withdraw his name from nomination^ by a 
request in writing signed by him with his 
own hand and filed with the secretary of the 
city or town committee. Thereupon, the sec- 
retary shall immediately give notice of such 
withdrawal and of the provisions of this 
section to the person who filed such nomina- 
tion paper, and such person may, within 



— withdrawal by 
person nominated. 



"BOSTON ACT.' 

twenty-four week-day hours succeeding five 
o'clock of the last day fixed for making with- 
drawals, present a new name on a nomina- 
tion paper signed by himself with his own 
hand; otherwise the chairman and secretary 
of the city or town committee may file nomi- 
nation papers for the vacancy. 

If at any time subsequent to the expiration — in case of va- 
of the time for filling vacancies it shall ap- g^h. caused by 
pear that a vacancy has been created by 
death, the chairman of the city or town com- 1910'" c/i^ 182.° S 
mittcc may file with the city or toion clerk or ', Amendment in 
in Boston, with the election commissioners, a 1 a lts - 
new name to fill such vacancy ; and if the 
time is sufficient therefor, the new name shall 
be printed upon the official ballot. 

Section 127. Not less than seven week papers to be de- 
days before the day upon which the caucuses livered to officials 
are to be held and before five o'clock in the caU c^s 
afternoon of the last day, the secretary of 
each city or town committee shall deliver to 
the city or town clerk, or in Boston to the 
election commissioners, the nomination papers 
filed with him. 

Section 128. If an error or informality is Errors to be 
found in any nomination paper, it shall be corrected, 
forth vvith returned to the secretary of the 
committee by whom it was filed, for correc- 
tion; and if it is not corrected and again 
filed before five o'clock in the afternoon of 
the day following its return to said secretary, 
it shall be void. 

Section 129. Objections to nomination objections to 
papers, and all other questions relating there- papers, 
to, shall be considered in Boston by the ballot 
law commission of said city; in other cities 
by the board of registrars, the city clerk and 
the city solicitor; and in towns by the board 
of registrars. 

53 



City or town to 
provide ballots. 



— in Boston not to 
be printed in city 
printing office. 

— officers of com- 
mittees may deter- 
mine number. 



-in case of failure 



— facsimile copies 
to be provided for 
each polling place. 



Arrangement of 
ballots ; 

— certain words, 
etc., to be printed 
on front and back 
Arrangement of 
names on ballots. 



— of candidates for 
elective office 
alphabetically. 

— of candidates for 
delegates and com- 
mittees to be 
grouped in order 
of filing. 

— residence of 
candidates to be 
printed. 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

Preparation and Form of Ballots. 
Section 130. The city or town shall provide I 
and the city or town clerk, or in Boston the 
election commissioners, shall prepare ballots 
to' be used in caucuses, in accordance with 
the provisions of this chapter, and no other 
ballots shall be received or counted. No bal- 
lots as herein provided shall be printed in. 
any printing establishment owned or managed 
by the city of Boston. 

The chairman and secretary of the city or 
town committee may determine the number 
of ballots to be provided for each ward or 
town, not exceeding one for each voter there- 
in. If they fail so to do, the city or town 
clerk or in Boston the election commissioners, 
shall determine the number. At least six 
fac-simile copies of the ballot, printed on 
colored paper, shall be provided for each poll- 
ing place as specimen ballots. 

Section 131. At the top of each ballot shall 
be printed the words "The official ballot of 
(here shall follow the party name)." On the 
back and outside of each ballot when folded 
shall be printed the words "Official ballot of 
the (here shall be inserted the party name)", 
followed by the number of the ward or the 
name of the town for which the ballot is pre- 
pared, the date of the caucus and a facsimile 
of the signature of the secretary of the politi- 
cal committee. Names of candidates for each 
elective office shall be arranged alphabetically 
according to their surnames. 

Names of candidates for caucus officers, for 
ward or town committees, and for delegates 
to conventions shall be arranged in groups 
in the order in which they are filed. 

Against the name of a candidate for a 
caucus office, for an elective office, for a ward 
54 



"BOSTON ACT." 

or town committee or for a member of a state 
committee shall be printed the street and 

number, if any, of his residence. . . 

a ■ _x j.v. a j- j 4. r — information as to 

Against the name of a candidate for an candidates to be 
elective office or for a political convention printed, 
shall be printed the statement contained in 
the nomination paper placing him in nomina- Arrangement of 
tion. ballots ' 

No names shall be printed on a ballot other — only names duly 
than those presented on nomination papers, nominated to be 
Immediately following the names of candi- 
dates, blank spaces equal to the number of — blank spaces for 
persons to be chosen shall be provided for the inserting other 
« _l- j! ±.x. names to be 

insertion of other names. provided. 

The number of persons to be voted for for — number to be 
the different offices shall be stated on the voted for to be 
ballot. stated - 

A star (*) against a name shall indicate — a star (*) indi- 
that a person is a candidate for re-election. f^re* totfon** 6 
The form of ballots and the arrangement of 
printed matter thereon shall be in general 7~ form > e \ c -> same 
fi. 4-v ± * ±v. £a • i 4- ± t n 4. m S ener al as at 

the same as that of the official state ballots, elections. 

except as herein otherwise provided. 
Manner of Voting. 
Section 132. A cross (X) marked against A cross (X) 
a name shall constitute a vote for the person against a name to 
, . , , . , , • , ■ .! constitute a vote, 

so designated. A cross in the circle at the 

head of an entire group of candidates for A cross in circle at 

ward committees or for delegates to a con- candidates l( fo P count 

vention shall count as a vote for each can- as vote for each. 

didate therein. A voter may vote for one Voter may vote for 

or more candidates in any such group by °ne or more candi- 

marking a cross against the name of each a es * 

such candidate, or he may insert another may insert other 

name and mark a cross against it. If he 

votes for more candidates than the number —when vote not to 

to be elected, his vote shall not be counted. 

Delivery of Ballots etc. City or town cIerk 

Section 133. The city or town clerk, or in etc., to deliver bal- 

Boston the election commissioners, before the lo J- s ' voting list, etc. 

at polling place. 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

Blanks, seals, etc., opening of the polls on the day of : the caucus, 
to be furnished. ghall at the expense of the city or town, 
prepare and deliver at the polling place to the 
warden or, if he is not present, to the clerk 
or, if both are absent, then to any inspector, 
ballot boxes, the ballots, specimen ballots, 
voting lists, suitable blank forms and appar- 
atus for canvassing and counting the ballot, 
and making the returns, a seal of suitable 
device and a record book for each poling 
, , place. The presiding officer at each polling 
£855^ 'place shall, before the opening of the , caueu., 
polling place. conspicuously post in such polling place at 

least six specimen ballots, which shall be 
As amended, Acts k t so posted until the polls are closed, cx- 
^ 0S \!nend^nt "incept that where voting booths are provul<<l 
haliei m6n two of such specimen ballots may oe posted 

on such booths. 

Conduct of Caucuses. 

Section 134. Caucuses, except as herein 

Sd e in!?en b e e ral° a n ; otherwise provided, shall be held in general 

at elections. accordance with the provisions of law for the 

conduct of elections and the manner of voting 

thereat. . , n , „ 

Section 135. The order of business shall be 
Order of business. ag followS: _ _ 

First, Any necessary preliminary business 
-balloting till Second, Balloting until half past eight 

8.30 P. M. unless , d k in the evening, when the polls snaii 
time is extended. ^ ^^ ^^ the caucug ghall vote to keep 
them open until a later hour; but every voter 
-voters in line at waiti ng in line at the hour for closing the 
closing must be al- „ ^aU be allowed to vote, 
lowed to vote. P fl After the pollg have bee n closed, 

any other business which is properly before 

the caucus. 

Section 136. If the right of a person offer- 
If right of person to t vote ig challenged for any legal cause, 

p?o e ceedin h gs l as ng at d the presiding officer shall require him, or 
elections. 56 



"BOSTON ACT." 

some one in his behalf, to write his name 

and residence on the outside of the ballot 

offered, and before it is received the presiding 

officer shall add thereto the name of the j^ officer to give in- 

person challenging and the cause alleged for formation in regard 

the challenge; but no caucus officer shall re- to a ballot cast- 

ceive any ballot which by law he is required 

to refuse. No officer or other person shall 

give any information in regard to a ballot 

cast by a challenged voter unless required by 

law so to do. 

Counting of Ballots. . 

Ballots not to be 
Section 137. Immediately after the polls counted till polls 
have been declared closed, but not before, the are closed. 

ballots shall be counted in full view of the vo- - m f u n v iew of 

ters. When they have been counted and the voters. 

result has been ascertained, the presiding offi- _ resu it to be pub- 

cer shall make public announcement thereof in licly announced. 

open meeting, and the clerk shall, in open record and return 

meeting, enter in words at length in the of result to be made 
record book, the total number of names 
checked on the voting list, the total number 
of ballots cast, the names of all persons 
voted for, the number of votes foi each per- 
son, and the title of the delegation or office 
for which he was a candidate. The clerk shall 
forthwith make a copy of said record, certify 
and seal the same, and transmit it to the city 
or town clerk, or in Boston to the election 

commissioners. He shall then, before the before adjourn- 

adjournment of the caucus, and in the pres- ment clerk to seal 
ence of those who counted the same, seal up J 1 ^* et a ° s ' 
all ballots cast, with the voting lists used, 
and a statement of any challenge which may 

have been made. . , . _ 

rm. j j i 1 1 n • j — indorsement to be 

The warden and clerk shall indorse upon ma a e of certain 
such package the name of the political party facts on the sealed 
holding the caucus, its date, its purpose, and, P acka S e - 
if in a city, for what ward the ballots were Warden to transmit 

package. 
57 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

cast. The warden shall forthwith transmit, 
by the officer detailed to attend the caucus, 
to the city or town clerk, or in Boston to 
the election commissioners, the ballots cast, 
the voting lists, the ballot boxes, the ballot 
box seals, the counting apparatus, the copy 
of the records, and the record book. 
Officials to keep The city or town clerk or election corn- 

seal cd packages for missioners shall safely keep such sealed pack- 
ages for ten days. If within said time ten 
voters entitled to vote in said caucus file 
with them, a written request so to do, they 
shall preserve said ballots and voting lists 
for three months and shall produce them if 
required by any court or convention having 
jurisdiction or authority over the same. 

Section 138. The city or town clerk, and in 
Boston the election commissioners, upon writ- 
ten application, signed by at least ten voters 
of a. ward or town, for a copy of a list as 
checked, may open the envelope containing the 
voting list used at any caucus in such ward 
or town and shall furnish to them a certified 
copy thereof as checked. 

Recount of Ballots. 

Section 139. If before five o'clock in the 

Request for recount -, * ,. , , ,. 

must be made before afternoon of the second day next succeeding 

5 P. M. of second the day of any caucus, ten or more voters of 

day after caucus. any town or ward ghall gignj adding thereto 

109 Mass. 534 their respective residences on the first day of 

April of that year, and file with the city or 

town clerk, or in Boston with the election 

As amended, word commissioners, a statement under oath that 

April inserted in ^he records and returns made by the caucus 

place of word May. „ _- , , J 

Acts 1909, Ch. 440. officers of such town or ward are erroneous, 

^ c - .. 2 -„ Amendment specifying the error, or that challenged votes 

in italics. Zi v. x 4.-4.1 j a *. 

were cast by persons not entitled to vote 

therein, said city or town clerk shall forth- 
2(»4 Mas-. 487 w i th transmit such statement to the regis- 



ten days or upon 
request three 
months, etc. 



City or town clerk 
In Boston election 
commissioners to 
furnish a copy of 
voting list used at 
a caucus. 



"BOSTON ACT." 

trars of voters with the sealed packages con- 
taining the ballots and voting lists, and said 
registrars or election commissioners shall give 

notice in writing to the person affected, fix- Recount of Ballots ; 
ing a place and time, as early as may be, at of t place and tfme! 
which said ballots will be recounted and at 
such place and time shall open the packages 
containing the ballots and voting lists and 
recount said ballots and determine the ques- 
tions raised, and shall reject any challenged 
vote cast by a person found not to have been 
entitled to vote; and such recount shall stand 
as the true result of the vote cast in such 

caucus. Each candidate affected may be pres- ~£ a £ ^a? be* pres- 
ent during such recount, or may be represent- ent. 
ed by an agent appointed by him in writing. 
If it shall appear upon a recount that persons 
were nominated or elected other than those 
declared to have nominated or elected, 
certificates of such change shall be made as 
in the case of the original certificate. 

Caucus Officers. 

Section 140. At the caucus held for the Caucus officers; 
choice of delegates to the state convention chosen annually ' 
there shall be chosen annually a warden, a 

ii j 4. i u. -g _x 1 - — names and 

clerk, and at least five inspectors, and, m number. 

wards having more than five precincts, such 

aditional inspectors as the city committee 

of the political party whose caucuses are to 

be held may determine. They shall be voters — qualification. 

of the ward or town in which they are elected 

and members of the political party whose 

caucus is to be held. No person shall be certain persons 

eligible to the positon of warden or clerk or n °t eligible, 
inspector who is a state, county or city em- 
ployee, or who is a member of a ward or town 
committee, and no person shall serve as a 



CAUCUSES USING OFFICIAL BALLOTS. 

Caucus officers. caucus officer at any caucus wherein he is a 

—term of office. candidate for a nomination to an elective 
office, or for ward or town committee. Every 
caucus officer shall hold office for one year, 
beginning with the flrst day of October suc- 
ceeding his election, and until his successor 
is elected. He shall, before entering upon the 

to be sworn. performance of his duties, be sworn to the 

faithful performance thereof by the warden, 

-record of oath to ,lerk, or a justice of the peace, and a record 

be made. of such oat h shall be made upon the record 

book of such caucus. The respective duties 

—duties same in C aucus officers shall be in general the 

FStA'SSSi^r™ -quh-ed ° f ^ ction 0ffiCCT9 at 

elections, 
-temporary vacan- Section 141. A majority of the caucus 
cies, how filled. officers present at a caucus may fill tempor- 
al Mass. 192. arv vacancies and elect additional officers to 
serve in that caucus only. Such temporary 
—permanent vacan- officers shall be duly sworn. Permanent va- 
cies, how filled. cancies shall be filled by a majority vote 01 

all the caucus officers, 
-committees to a P - Section 14a. A city or town coinmittee 
point in certain of a political party which has adopted the 
provisions of law for the use of official bal- 
lots shall, at least ten days before holding 
any caucus thereunder, appoint caucus offi- 
cers in each ward, town, or voting precinct 
in cities and towns where elections or cau- 
cuses are held in such precincts, to serve 
at the first caucus to be held thereafter. 
Section 143. In a newly incorporated city, 
e^ a rat n e e d Wly cit\ n -or or „ p0 n a re-division into wards of a crty 
upon re-diviskm of ][} tl id provisions apply, the caucui 

a city into wards. to*ta* ^ I ^ ^ ^ he , d „ 

the next succeeding year shall be appointed 
by the city committee; and at such caucuses 
the regular caucus officers shall be chosen. 



PROVISIONS APPLYING 

TO 

JOINT CAUCUSES 

OR 

PRIMARIES OF POLITICAL 

AND 

MUNICIPAL PARTIES. 

Mandatory in Boston and so far as reported to the Sec- 
retary of the Commonwealth adopted hy the following 
cities nd towns: 



Cambridge, 


Lowell, 


Salem, 


Chelsea, 


Medford, 


Somerville, 


Gloucester, 


Newton, 


Waltham, 


Lawrence, 


Quincy, 
Revere. 


Middleboro, 



"No primary election or caucus for municipal offices, shall 
be held hereafter in the city of Boston, and all laws related to 
primary elections and caucuses for such offices in said city are 
hereby repealed."— Acts of 1909, Chap. 486, Sec. 52. 



Primaries to be 
held at the same 
time and place. 

— with exceptions. 



Question of holding 
joint caucuses to 
be submitted to 
voters. 



200 Mass. 15 



JOINT CAUCUSES OR PRIMARIES. 

Section 144. All caucuses of political and 
municipal parties in Boston and in cities, and 
in towns using official ballots, which vote that 
primaries shall be held therein, except cau- 
cuses to elect delegates to conventions held 
for the election of delegates to national con- 
ventions, and for the choice of ward commit- 
tees after the change of ward lines ,shall be 
held at the same time and place as primaries, 
and shall be conducted in general accordance 
with the provisions of law concerning the 
conduct of elections and the manner of voting 
thereat, except as otherwise provided herein. 

Section 145. In any city or town which 
has adopted the provisions of law for nomi- 
nating by primaries, the following question 
shall be put on the official ballot at any city 
election or annual town meeting on petition 
of five per cent, of the voters registered at the 
time of the preceding city election or annual 
town meeting, filed with the city or town 
clerk on or before the last day of filing nomi- 
nation papers: — "Shall joint caucuses or pri- 
maries continue to be held in this city (or 
town) ?" In any city or town not nominat- 
ing by primaries the following question may, 
by similar petition, be put on the ballot at 
the next city election or annual town meet- 
ing: — "Shall joint caucuses or primaries be 
held in this city (or town) ?" In the event 
of an affirmative or negative vote on these 
questions, primaries shall or shall not there- 
after be held accordingly, except that in case 
of an affirmative vote in a town the provis- 
ions shall not aply to caucuses fo the nomi- 
nation of town officers, unless expressly pro- 
vided in the vote. 

Secretary of the Clerks of cities or towns which vote to hold 

Commonwealth to . 

be notiiied of result, primaries or to rescind such action shall forth- 



JOINT CAUCUSES OR PRIMARIES. 

with notify the secretary of the Common- 
wealth of such vote. 

Notices — Filing of Nomination Papers, etc. 
Section 146. Notices of intention to par- Notices of intention, 
ticipate in primaries shall be furnished bv the to participate in 

., , , ... ,. , .... , primaries to be 

city and town committees of such political given. 

and municipal parties as are entitled to and 

desire to participate therein not less than 

twenty-two days prior to the day on which 

the primaries are to be held, to the election 

commissioners in Boston, the city clerk in 

other cities or the town clerk in towns. Said 

notices shall state the number of delegates to —to state number 

be chosen to each convention and the number ^ he^h^en GtC ' 

of members of a ward or town committee to 

be elected in each ward or town. 

Section 147. In Boston notices of primar- Notices, in Boston, 

ies shall be issued not less than twenty-two prior to^primariels! S 

days prior to the day on which the primaries 

are to be held. Nomination papers shall be Nomination papers 

sealed up and filed in the office of '"the secre- \° be fi J ed , 14 , week 
, . f, ., ... ... , , days prior to the 

tary of the city committee of the party mak- primaries. 

ing the nominations not less than fourteen 
week days prior to the day upon which the 
primary is to be held for which the nomina- 
tions are made ; and . the secretary of each 

city committee shall deliver to the election to be delivered to 

commissioners, not less than ten week davs election commis- 
' ,.,;,, . . " sioners 10 week 

before the day upon which the primaries are days before the 
to be held and before five o'clock in the after- primaries, 
noon of the last day, the nomination papers 
filed with him. 

Dates of Holding. 
Section 148. Primaries shall be held on the p r i mar i es . 
sixth Tuesday preceding state elections, on 
the third Tuesday preceding city elections. nu in i c ip™i ari ffi'ces 
except in Boston, where they shall' be held held in Boston, 
on the fourth Thursday preceding the city sc. tS 52. 9 ° 9 ' ° h ' 486 ' 



As amended. Ac 
1909, Gh. 264. 
Amendment in 
Italics. 



Primaries. 

— in Boston to be 
held by precincts. 



— elsewhere. 



— nominations how 
made. 



Ballots ballot 
boxes etc. how to 
be provided etc. 



-number of ballots 



— each party ballot 
to be printed a 
different color. 



Special provisions 
of law to apply t 
primaries. 



JOINT CAUCUSES OR PRIMARIES. 

election, and on the second Tuesday preced- 
ing town elections: provided, that at special 
elections all primaries shall be held on the 
third Thursday preceding the day of the elec- 
tion. 

In Boston they shall be held by precincts 
as established for elections; elsewhere, wholly 
or partly by wards, precincts or towns, as the 
board of aldermen or selectmen may from 
time to time determine. 

Nominations. 
Section 149. Nominations shall be made in 
accordance with the provisions of sections one 
hundred and nineteen to one hundred and 
twenty-eight, inclusive, except as otherwise 
provided in section one hundred and forty- 
seven. 

Ballots, Apparatus, etc. 
Section 150. Ballots for each political and 
municipal party, ballot boxes, voting lists, 
specimen ballots, blank forms and apparatus, 
seals and record books, shall be provided and 
treated in accordance with the provisions of 
sections one hundred and thirty to one hun- 
dred and thirty-three, inclusive, of this chap- 
ter, except that the number of ballots shall 
be determined by the election commissioners 
in Boston, by the city clerk in any other qty, 
and by the town clerk in towns, and shall 
not for any ward or town exceed one ballot 
of each party for each voter therein; and 
the ballots for each party shall be printed on 
paper of a different color from that on which 
the ballots for any other party are printed. 
Primary Officers, etc. 
Section 151. The provisions of law relating 
to election officers, voting places for elections, 
election apparatus and blanks, calling and 
conduct of elections, maner of voting at elec- 



JOINT CAUCUSES OR PRIMARIES. 

tions, counting and recounting of votes at 
elections, the provisions of section two hun- 
dred and seventy-six of this chapter, corrupt ^ amcn(lcd> Acts 
practices, and penalties shall apply to pri- 1908, Ch. 423, So. 
niaries, except as otherwise provided in sec- y Amendment in 
tions one hundred and forty-four to one hun- 
dred and sixty, inclusive. 

Section 152. The election commissioners in Special officers to 
Boston, the city clerks in other cities, and £7^ pri ma del 
the town clerks in towns may designate two 
inspectors and two deputy inspectors, repre- 
senting the two leading political parties, in- 
stead of a larger number, to serve at the pri- 
maries, and from the whole body of election 

officers they may designate officers equally may be 

representing the two leading political parties designated, 
to serve as tellers in any precinct or ward 
during part of the day for the purpose of 
receiving ballots, checking names, or canvass- 
ing and counting votes, such tellers to receive 
such part of a full day's compensation of elec- 

♦Section 276. The aldermen and city clerk, 
in Boston, the election commissioners, and the 
selectmen and town clerks in towns divided into 
voting precincts, shall forthwith after a state or 
city election examine the copies of the records of 
the election officers, and if any error appears 
therein, they shall forthwith give notice- thereof 
to the officers hy whom the error was made, who 
shall forthwith make an additional record under 
oath in conformity with the facts and deliver a 
copy thereof to the city or town clerk or election 
commissioners. Such copy of the records made, 
with or without notice as aforesaid, shall be re- 
ceived hy the city or town clerks or election com- 
missioners at any time before the last day fixed 
for the transmission of copies of records of the 
votes cast in the city or town, or on which the 
results of the election are required to be declared. 

The aldermen and city clerk, the election com- 
missioners, and the selectmen and town clerk, 
shall examine all original and all additional copies 
of the records and make them part of the records 
of such election, and shall certify and attest 
copies of the records of votes for the several 
candidates. 

65 



JOINT CAUCUSES Oil PRIMARIES. 



City and town 
clerks to designate 
primary officers in 
certain cases. 



- — except in Boston 
certain persons not 
ineligible. 



Primaries to be 
open such hours 
as officials may 
designate. 



Enrolment, 
oer of. 



tion officers as the election commissioners in 
Boston, the board of aldermen in other cities, 
or the selectmen in towns, may determine. 

Section 153. In wards or towns where at 
elections voting is by precincts, but at pri- 
maries by wards or towns, the city or town 
clerk shall designate which of the election 
officers shall serve as primary officers. 

Section 154. Except in Boston no person 
shall be ineligible to serve as a primary officer 
because he is a candidate for or member of a 
ward or town committee. 

Section 155. The polls at every primary 
shall be open during such hours, not less than 
nine in cities or four in towns, as may be 
designated by the board of election commis- 
sioners in Boston, the aldermen of other cities, 
and the selectmen of towns. 

Enrolment. 

Section 156. When in a primary the voter 
seeks to pass the guard rail, he shall be asked 
by one of the ballot clerks which party bal- 
lot he desires, and the ballot clerk upon reply 
shall distinctly announce the same and give 
him such party ballot. The voter's selection 
shall be "checked on the voting list used by 
the ballot clerks, and said list shall be 're- 
turned to the election commissioner in Bos- 
ton, or to the city clerk in any other city, 
or to the town clerk in towns, for preserva- 
tion during the succeeding calendar year. A 
copy of the party entries on such list shall 
be used at subsequent primaries for deter- 
mining with what party the voter has been 
enrolled. 

No voter enrolled under the provisions of 
this chapter shall be allowed to receive the 



GG 



JOINT CAUCUSES OR PRIMARIES, 
ballot of any political party except that with Enrolment, 
which he is so enrolled, but he may change 

his enrolment by appearing in person before r~ may J* changed, 
E, , ,. J . . . * . ,. but not to take 

the election commissions in Boston, the effect until expira- 
city clerk in any other city, or the town clerk ^PJ 1 of ninety days 
. J , , J , . . .,. , after request of 

in towns, and requesting m writing to have voter. 

his enrolment changed to another party; but 
such change shall not take effect until the ex- 
piration of ninety days after the voter so 
appears; but the political party enrolment of 
a voter shall not preclude him from receiving 
at a primary* the ballot of any municipal 
party, though in no one primary shall he 
receive more than one party ballot. 

No voter who denies the accuracy of his —if accuracy de- 
enrolment may deposit his ballot until he deposited °if voter * 
takes the following oath which shall be ad- takes oath, 
ministered to him by the presiding officer of 
the primary: 

You do solemnly swear, or affirm, that you are Oath, 
a registered voter in this ward (or town), and 
have the legal right to vote in this primary and 

that you are a member of the party 

participating in the same and are incorrectly en- 
rolled as a member of the political 

party. 

The clerk or secretary of the primary shall — record of taking 

make a record of the administration of said r eturae™ & G &n 

oath to every person who takes the same, 

which record shall state whether or not sai'i 

person voted. Said record shall be returned 

with the proceedings of said primary and 

shall be prima facie evidence in any cour' 

that such person took said oath and voted in Such voter may be 

said primary. Such voter may be challenged c a enge ' 

like any other voter. 

Counting and Canvas of Votes, etc. 
Section 157. In the counting of votes when counting of votes, 
the ballots are removed from the ballot box, 
they shall first be sorted into piles, one for 



JOINT CAUCUSES OR PRIMARIES. 

each party, and each pile shall be counted and 
sealed separately. Votes shall be counted 
only for nominations of the party on whose 
ballot they appear. 
Canvassing returns Section 158. The election commissioners in 
sults rn e i tc! ng re ~' Boston, the city clerks in other cities, and 
town clerks in towns, shall canvass the re- 
turns of votes, determine the results, issue 
Certificateri of elec- proper certificates thereof to the successful 
issued. ' candidates, and notify the chairmen of the 

city or town committees of the respective 
parties as to the persons who have been 
elected delegates to conventions and members 
of ward and town committees. 

They shall also certify to the facts requided 
by law as to certificates of nominations 01 
representatives to the general court, and shall 
file such certificates with the secretary of the 
Commonwealth on or before the Thursday 
designated by law therefor. 

Section 159. If a majority* of a delegation 
or of a ward or town committee is not elected, 
or if there is a tie vote for candidates for 
an elective office, the vacancy shall be filled 
according to the provision of section one 
hundred and eighty-one of this chapter and 
the city or town clerk, or in Boston the elec- 
tion commissioners, shall notify the cluiir- 
man or secretary of the committee of the 
political party interested. 

Section 160. In Boston petitions for re- 
counts after primaries shall be filed before 
five o'clock in the afternoon of the second 
day thereafter. 

Sections 161-164. Apply to caucusces 

OTHER THAN THOSE OF POLITICAL 
PARTIES. 



Failure to elect 
and tie votes. 



Petitions for 
recounts. 



NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. 



Nomination of Candidates. 



Section 165. A convention of delegates, a Nominations by a 
caucus or a primary held in accordance with caucus, convention 
the provisions of this chapter for the Com- ^ q^ 1 a^g 388 
monwealth, or for a district, county, city, 
town or ward may make one nomination ex- 
cept that at a primary one nomination for 
each political party taking part therein may Special provisions, 
be made for each office to be filled at an elec- 
tion therein, and shall be entitled to have 
the names of all candidates so nominated 
placed upon the official ballot upon filing a 
certificate of nomination as hereinafter pro- 
vided. A party may make a nomination for 
an office to be filled by election in the Com- 
monwealth, or in any district, county, city, 
town or ward, when at the five preceding 
annual elections it polled in the Common- 
wealth, or in such district, county, city, town 
or ward, respectively, a number of votes for 
governor equal to the number of voters re- 
quired to nominate by nomination papers a 
candidate for the office so to be filled. 

Section 166. The candidates of all political Candidates in cer- 
parties for the office of representative in con- t^^^Sminatld "' 
gress in the ninth, tenth and eleventh dis- by direct plurality 
tricts, councillor in districts composed wholly v0 e " 
of Suffolk senatorial districts, senator in the 
Suffolk districts, representative in the gen- 
eral court and for elective city offices to be 
voted for in two or more wards, except school 
committee in Boston, shall be nominated by 
direct plurality vote in caucuses or primaries. 

The persons who in the aggregate of all 
the ballots cast at such caucuses or pri- 
maries in each district for the several can- 
didates shall receive the highest number of 
votes shall be the candidates nominated. 



NOMINATION PAPERS— CONVENTIONS. 

All provisions re- Section 167. All provisions of law relative 

lating to nomina- , .. ,. *. ... 

tion papers, ballots, to the preparation of nomination papers and 

etc., to apply to ballots, to caucuses, primaries and elections, 

caucuses held for . * , . . 

direct nominations, to ballots cast at caucuses, primaries ami 

elections, to recounts of such ballots, and to 
certificates of nominations, shall, so far as 
they are applicable, apply to caucuses held 
for direct nominations. 

Conventions, 

Calling of conven- Section 168. No convention to nominate 
tions to nominate t 

candidates for state candidates for any state or city office shall be 
or city office. called for or held on a date earlier than four 

days after the holding of the caucuses or 
primaries for the choice of delegates thereto, 

latest date. and all such conventions shall be called for 

and held on a date not later than forty-eigln 
hours prior to the hour for filing certificates 
of nomination as provided in section one 
hundred and seventy-seven. 

earliest date for No representative convention shall be called 

representative eon- f or or held on a date earlier than seven days 
after the date designated for holding cau- 
cuses by the state committee of the political 
party whose representative convention is to 
be held. 
No conventions for In Boston conventions to nominate can- 
municipal offices didates for school commitee shall be called 
held in Boston. . ,, 

Acts 19(i«>, Ch. 486. for and held on the eighth day after the pn- 

Sc - 52 - maries before the city election. 

Section 169. At a convention not held for 
the nomination of candidates for any offices 
Nominations in a to be filled by all the voters of the Common - 
cept e stat< n ) to** wealth, by vote of one fourth of the dele- 
made by roll call by orates present the nomination of anv eandi- 
vote of one-fourth , . , ,. , , , „ „ . ,, ' » „ 

of the delegates. date shall be made by roll call in the follow- 
ing manner: the secretary of the convention 
shall call the roll of the towns and cities in 
.alphabetical order or of wards in a city in 
numerical order, and each delegate shall, as 
70 



conventions! 

his name is called, state in the hearing of the 
convention the name of the candidate for 
whom he desires to vote, and the person re- 
ceiving a majority of votes on such roll call 
shall be the candidate of the convention. 

Section 170. The clerk of a city or town Caucuses held iu 
wherein caucuses are held by precincts, im- P recmcts - 
mediately upon receipt of the returns from 
the caucus officers, which shall be made as 
provided in section one hundred and thirty- 
seven, shall tabulate and determine the re- tabulation and 

suits thereof, and shall certify to the facts determination of 

results, 
required by the following section, and in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of sections one 
hundred and seventy-one and one hundred 
and seventy-six, except in cases where the 
nomination is for an office to be filled by the 
voters of a city or town, in which cases no 

such certificate shall be required. The clerk .._ , . 

. ,; — certificates of 

shall also issue proper certificates to the sue- election to be 

cessful candidates and notify the chairman issuetl - 
of the city or town committees of the re- 
spective parties as to the persons who have 
been elected delegates to convention and 
members of ward and town committees. 

Section 171. Every certificate of nomina- „ ,._ , 

1 11 j 1 , • 1 , Certificates of 

tion shall state such facts as are required by nomination to state 
section one hundred and seventy-five and ex- certam facts. 

181 Mass 31 
cept in cases of direct nomination for a dis- 1AO ,, 0) „ 
r 198 Mass. .j40 

trict comprising more than one ward or town. 

shall be signed by the presiding officer and 
by the secretary of the convention or caucus, 
who shall add to their signatures their resi- 
dences, and shall make oath to the truth ffi cers to make 

thereof. The secretary of the convention or oath thereto, 
caucus shall within the seventy-two hours 
succeeding five o'clock in the afternoon of the 

dav upon which the convention or caucus was Secretary to file 

• l ... certificates within 

held and within the time specified in section 72 hours. 

71 



Nomination papers 
159 Mass. 488 
181 Mass. 31, 187 



— signers required 
for offices to be 
filled by all the 
voters. 

— for other state 
and city offices. 



— for town 
offices. 



— at first election in 
newly established 
wards and towns. 



Voter to sign pap 
in person, etc. 



NOMINATION BY NOMINATION PAPERS. 

one hundred and seventy- seven, file such cer- 
tificate as hereinafter provided.' 

Nominations by Nomination Papers. 
Section 172. Nominations of candidates for 
any offices to be filled by all the voters of 
the Commonwealth may be made by nomi- 
nation papers, stating the facts required by 
section one hundred and seventy-five and 
signed in the aggregate by not less than one 
thousand voters for each candidate. Nomi- 
nations of ail other candidates for offices to 
be filled at a state election, and of all can- 
didates for offices to be filled at a city elec- 
tion, may be made by like nomination papers, 
signed in the aggregate, for each Candida to. 
by two voters for every one hundred votes 
cast for governor at the preceding annual 
state election, in the electoral district or 
division for which the officers are to be 
elected, but in no case by less than fifty nor 
more than one thousand qualified voters. 
Nominations of candidates for offices to be 
filled at a town election may be made by 
nomination papers, signed by at least one 
voter for every fifty votes polled for gov- 
ernor at the preceding annual state election 
in such town, but in no case by less than 
twenty voters. At a first election to be held, 
in a newly established ward of a city, the 
number of voters upon a nomination paper 
of a candidate who is to be voted for only 
in such ward need not exceed fifty; and at 
a first election in a town the number for the 
nomination of a candidate who is to be 
voted for only in such town need not exceed 
twenty. 

Section 773. Every voter who signs a nom- 
ination paper shall sign it in person, with his 



NOMINATIONS BY NOMINATION PAPERS. 

full surname his Christian name and the jjgg Mass 139 
initial of every other name which he may 
have, and shall add his residence on the As amended word 
previous first day of April, and the place April inserted in 
where he is then living, with the street and AcU 1909^°Ch. 44a' 
number thereof, if any, to his signature; but Sc. 2. Amendment 
any voter who is prevented by a physical 
disability from writing or who had the right 
to vote on the first day of May in the year 
eighteen hundred and fifty seven, may author- 
ize some person to write his name and resi- 
dence is his presence; and every voter may 
sign as many nomination papers for each 

office to be filled as there are persons to be 

, , , ,, , , TTT , Women voters mav 

elected thereto, and no more. Women who s jg n papers for 

are qualified to vote may sign nomination school committee, 
papers for candidates for the school commit- 
tee. Every nomination paper shall, before 
being filed, be seasonably submitted to the Every nomination 
registrars of the city or town in which the nf^d *to ^eglstmrs, 
signers appear to be voters, and in Boston etc. 
to the election commissioners, who shall forth- 
with certify thereon the number of signatures 
which are names of voters both in the city 
or town arid in the district or division for 
which the nomination is made. They need 
not certify a greater number of names than 
are required to make a nomination, with one 
fifth of such number added thereto. Names 
not certified in the first instance shall not 
thereafter be certified on the same nomina- 
tio papers. The secretary of the Common- 
wealth shall not be required in any case to 
file nomination papers for a candidate after 
filing such papers containing a sufficient num- 
ber of certified names to make a nomination, 
with one fifth of such number added thereto. 
One of the signers to each nomination paper 



CERTIFICATES OP NOMINATION. 



Specifications re- 
quired in nomina- 
tion papers. 
181 Mass. 31 
108 Mass. 340 



Nomination papers, shall make oath to the truth of the state- 

one signer to each merits therein, and the certification of such 

paper to make oath oa th and the post office address of the signer 
to truth of same. , ,, . , , , 

shall be annexed to such paper. 

Section 174. A notary public, justice of 

Duties of notaries, the peace or other magistrate, when taking 

R?ffner^s he oath akmg tne oatn of a s i& ner °f a nomination paper, 

181 Mass. 30 shall satisfy himself that the person to whom 

the oath is administered is the person signing 

such nomination paper, and shall so state in 

his attestation of said oath. 

Certificates of Nomination and Nomination 
Papers. 

Section 175. All certificates of nomination 
and nomination papers shall, in addition to the 
names of candidates, specify as to each: (1) 
his residence with street and number thereof, 
if any; (2) the office for which he is nomi- 
nated; and (3), except as hereinafter pro- 
vided, the party or political principle which 
he , represents, expressed in not more than 
three words. Certificates of nomination shall 
also state what provision, if any, was made 
by the caucus or convention for filling vacan- 
cies caused by the death, withdrawal or in- 
eligibility of candidates. The names of the 
candidates for president and vice president of 
the United States may be added to the party 
or political destination of the candidates for 
presidential electors. To the name of each 
candidate for the office of alderman at ];ugt> 
shall be added the number of the ward in 
which he resides. 

If a candidate is nominated otherwise than 
by a political party, the name of a political 
party shall not be used in his political desig- 
nation, except as describing and preceding 
some other name or term which shall not b<' 



Use of party name 
by candidates 
nominated other- 
wise than by a 
political party. 



FILING CERTIFICATES OF NOMINATION. 

the name of any party which cast at the last 
preceding election more than three thousand 
votes for governor; and if so used in case of 
a candidate nominated by a nomination 
paper, the political designation shall consist 
of not more than two words and shall not be 
changed after having been placed upon the 
paper. Certificates of nomination and nomi- 
nation papers for town offices may or may 
not include a designation of the party or 
principle which the candidate represents. 

If a candidate receives the nomination of When candidate 
a political party, and fails to withdraw there- of ^UThei^poUUcal 
from, the name of any other political party party. 
shall not he used in his political designation Amende! Acts of _ 

unless he shall have received the regular nom- ' ' l<n> e> ' 

, , ., .... , . Amendment in 

ination of such other political party. italics. 

Filing of Certificates of Nomination and 
Nomination Papers. 

Section 176. Certificates of nomination and Nomination papers 
nomination papers for state offices shall t be t ^, be tiled ' with 
filed with the secretary of the Common- 181 ^ass. 31 
wealth; and for city and town offices, with 19s Mass. 340 
the city or town clerk; and in Boston, with 
the election commissioners. Every nomina- 
tion paper shall be filed by a responsible per- 
son, who shall with his own hand sign such to be ., , flled by 

' . - responsible persons. 

paper and add to his signature his place of etc. 

residence, giving street and number, if any, 
and the secretary of the Commonwealth or 
the city or town clerk, or, in Boston, the elec- 
tion commissioners, shall require a satisfac- — to be received or 

., ,.„ ,. ' . XT . valid must have 

tory identification of such person. No nomma- written acceptance 
tion paper shall be received or be valid unless of candidate, 
the written acceptance of the candidate 
thereby nominated shall be filed therewith. papers^for ^tate™ 8 

Section 177. Certificates of nomination for offices, 
offices to be filled by all the voters of the 

75 



181 Mass. 30, 31 
19S Mass. 340 



Nomination papers. 



— in cities, 
except Boston. 



For special provi- 
sions applying to 
Boston in municipal 
elections. See Acts 
1909, Ch. 486, Scs. 
45-61. 



— in towns for 
town offices. 



— special provisions. 



As amended, Acts 
1009, vh. 149. 
Amendment in 
Italics. 



FILING CERTIFICATES OF NOMINATION. 

Commonwealth shall be filed on or before 
the fifth Monday, and nomination papers on 
or before the fourth Monday, preceding (lie 
day of election. Certificates of nomina- 
tion for all other candidates for offices to be 
filled at a state election shall be filed on or 
fore the third Thursday, and nomination 
papers, on or before the third Friday, pre- 
ceding the day of election; but if there 
is a special election to fill any stale office 
certificates of nomination shall be filed on 
or before the twelfth day, and nomination 
papers, on or before the eleventh day, pre- 
ceding the day of such election. 

In cities except Boston, certificates of 
nomination for city offices shall be filed on or 
before the third Monday, and nomination 
papers on or before the second Wednseday 
preceding the day of the election. 

In Boston, certificates of nomination for 
city offices, except for school committee, shall 
be filed on or before the third Friday pre- 
ceding the day of the election, and nomination 
papers for all city offices on or before the 
eleventh day after the primaries, certifi- 
cates of nomination of candidates for school 
committee shall be filed on or before the ninth 
day after the primaries. 

In towns, certificates of nomination fo» 
town offices shall be filed on or before the 
second Wednesday, and nomination papers, on 
or before the second Thursday preceding the 
day of the election; but if such Wednesday or 
Thursday falls on a legal holiday, said certifi- 
cates of nomination shall he tiled on or before 
the succeeding day; but if a town election is 
held on a day of the week other than Monday, 
such certificates of nomination and nomination 
papers shall be filed respectively on or before 
7<; 



OBJECTIONS TO NOMINATION PAPERS. 

the twelfth and elevnth days preceding the 
day of the election. 

Certificates of nomination and nomination 
papers shall be filed before five o'clock in the p apers to be fi , d 
afternoon of the last day fixed for the filing before 5 P. M. of 
thereof. last a ^- 

Objections to Nomination Papers. 

Section 178. When certificates of nomina- Certificates and 
tion and nomination papers have been filed, nomination papers 

, . , e ., . , , , valid unless ob- 

and are in apparent conformity with law, jected to, etc. 

they shall be valid unless objections thereto 181 Mass. 31 
are made in writing. Such objections to 191 Mass - 501 
nominations of candidates for state offices 
shall be filed with the secretary of the Com- 
monwealth, for city offices with the city 

clerk, or in Boston with the election com- filing of 

Diissioners, and for town offices with the objections. 
town clerk; and in the case of state offices 
within the seventy-two week-day hours, in fion S SP apSying OV to 
the case of city offices within the forty-eight Boston in municipal 
week-day hours, and in the case of town Jgog 10 ^h fsl Iscs? 
offices within the twenty-four week-day 45-61. 
hours, succeeding five o'clock in the afternoon 
of the last day fixed for the filing of nomina- 
tion papers for such offices. 

Section 179. Objections to certificates of — by whom con- 
nomination and nomination papers for state sidered. 
offices, and all other questions relating there- 1S1 Mass " 31 
to, shall be considered by the state ballot law 

commission; to nominations for city .offices, 

' ., . j * • j. For special provi- 

except m Boston, by the board of registrars, s i ns applying to 
the city clerk and the city solicitor; in Bos- Boston in municipal 
J J . . ' elections. See Acts 

ton,, by the ballot law commission of said 1909. Cb. 486, Scs. 
city; and to nomination for town offices, by 45-61. 
the board of registrars. 

The boards constituted in cities and towns proceedings. 

may, at hearings on such objections and ques- 
77 



Objections ; 

181 Mass. 31 



— candidates and 
party committees 
to be notified. 



When several can- 
didates have same 
designation. 



WITHDRAWALS OF CANDIDATES. 
lions, summon witnesses, administer oaths 
and require the production of books and 
papers. Such witnesses shall be summoned 
in the same manner, be paid the same fees, 
and be subject to the same penalties for de- 
fault, as witnesses before the superior court. 
A summons may be signed, and an oath may 
be administered by any member of such board, 
and the decision of a majority of the mem- 
bers thereof shall be final. 

When such objection has been filed, notice 
thereof shall be forthwith mailed by the sec- 
retary of the Commonwealth, or by the city 
or town clerk, or election commissioners, re- 
spectively, to the candidates affected thereby, 
addressed to their residences as given in the 
certificates of nomination or nomination 
papers, and to any party committee inter- 
ested in the nomination to which objection is 
made. 

If more candidates bearing the same politi- 
cal or other designation are nominated for an 
office, otherwise than by nomination papers, 
than are to be elected thereto, such board 
shall determine the candidates, if any, entitled . 
to such disignation. 



Withdrawals, Vacancies, etc. 

Section 180. A person nominated as a can- 
didate for any state, city or town office may 
withdraw his name from nomination by a 
request in writing signed by him and ac- 
knowledged before a justice of the peace and 



When withdrawals 
are to he filed. 
181 Mass. 31 
108 Mass. 340 

For special provi- 
sions applying to 

electio n ns in ™ef lets filed with the officer with whom the nomi 
looo. Ch. 486. Scs. na tion was filed, in the case of a state offiv 
45-61. 



within the seventy-two week-day hours, in 
the, case of a city office within the forty- 
eight week-day hours, and in the case of a 
town office within the twenty-four week-day 



WITHDRAWALS— VACANCIES. 

hours, succeeding five o'clock in the afternoon 
of the last d#y fixed for the filing of nomina- 
tion papers for such office. 

Section 181. If a candidate nominated for 
a state, city or town office dies .before the Vacancies. 
day of election, or withdraws his name from 1S1 Mass. 31 
nomination, or if found to be ineligible, the 
vacancy may be filled by the same political 
party or person who made the original nom- 
ination, and in the same manner; or, if the 
time is insufficient therefor, the vacancy may 
be filled, if the nomination was made by a 
convention or caucus, in such manner as the 
convention or caucus may have prescribed, 
or, if no such provision has been made, by a 
regularly elected general or executive com- 
mittee representing the political party or 
persons who held such convention or caucus. 
In the event of the withdrawal or death of ~ ^withdrawal or 
any candidate of a political party nominated 
by direct nomination for any office, the 
vacancy may be filled by a regularly elected 
general or executive committee representing 
the election district in which such vacancy 
occurs, or, if no such committee exists, by the 
members of the ward and town committee 
in the wards and towns comprising such dis- 
trict. If a vacancy is caused by withdrawal, 
certificates of nomination made otherwise 
than in the original manner shall be filed Time of filing, 
within seventy-two week-day hours in the 
case of state offices, or within forty- eight 
week-day hours, in the case of city or town 
offices, succeeding five o'clock in the after- 
noon- of the last day for filing withdrawals. 
They shall be open to objections in the same 
manner, so far as practicable, as other certifi- 
cates of nomination. No vacancy caused by 
withdrawal shall be filled before the with- 



STATE BALLOT LAW COMMISSION. 



Certificate of 
nomination in case 
of a vacancy. 
181 Mass. 31 

Certificate of 
Nomination. 



— papers to be ooen 
to public inspection. 
181 Mass. 31 



— to be preserved. 
Blank forms to be 
provided . 
181 Mass. 31 



State Ballot Law 
Commission. 



drawal has been filed. 

Section 182. When a nomination is made 
to fill a vacancy caused by the death, withj 
drawal or eligibility of a candidate, the cer- 
tificate of nomination shall, in addition to the 
other facts required, state the name of the 
original nominee, the fact of his death, with- 
drawal or eligibility, and the proceedings 
had for filling the vacancy; and the presiding 
officer, and secretary of the convention or 
caucus, or the chairman and secretary of an 
authorized committee, shall sign and make 
oath to the truth of the certificate, and it 
shall be accompanied by the written accept- 
ance of the candidate nominated. 

Section 183. Certificates of nomination, 
nomination papers, objections thereto and 
withdrawals, when filed, shall, under proper 
regulations, be open to public inspection, and 
the secretary of the Commonwealth and the 
several city and town clerks, and in Boston 
the election commissioners, shall preserve the 
same in their respective offices for one year. 

Section 184. The secretary of the Com- 
monwealth shall, upon application, provide 
blank forms for the nomination of candidates 
for all state offices; and he shall send blank 
forms for certificates of nomination for 1 the 
office of representative in the general court 
to the clerk of each city and town for the use 
of any caucus or convention held therein for 
the nomination of candidates for that office, 
lie shall likewise provide the clerks of towns 
wherein official ballots are used with blank 
forms for the nomination of candidates foi 
town offices. 

State Ballot Law Commission. 

Section 185. There shall be a state ballot 
SO 



STATE BALLOT LAW COMMISSION, ETC. 

law commission consisting of three persons, 181 Mass. 31 

one of whom shall annually in June or July . p * ' °. 

J J — to consist of 

he appointed by the governor with the advice three persons. 

and consent of the council, for a term of 
three years from the succeeding first day of 
August. The governor with the advice and 
consent of the council may remove any mem- 
ber of the commission, or fill any vacancy 
therein for the remainder of the unexpired 
term. There shall always be on said com- 
mission a member of each of the two leading 
political parties. 

Section 186. No member of said commis qualification of 

sion shall hold any public office except that of members - 
justice of the peace or notary public, or be a 
candidate for public office, or member or em-' 
ployee of any political committee. If any 
member of the commission shall be nominated 
as a candidate for public office and shall not 
in writing decline said nomination within 
three days, he shall be deemed to have vaca- 
ted his office as a member of said commission. 

Section 187. The state ballot law commis- — powers of com- 
., , , . . , mission, 

sion may summon witnesses, and administer 

to them oaths, and may require the produc- 
tion of books and papers at a hearing before 
it upon any matter within its jurisdiction. 
Witnesses shall be summoned in the same 
manner, be paid the same fees, and be sub- 
ject to the same penalties as witnesses sum- 
moned before the general court. A summons 
may be signed and an oath may be admin- 
istered by any member of said commission. 

Section 188. The decision of a majority of ]^ isi t ° n b ° f fi Jf a a L 
the members of the commission upon any 
matter within its jurisdiction shall be final. 



Section 189. Fixes the compensation of the 
commission. 



See acts 1909, Ch. 
440, fife. 2. 



Section 241 amend- 
ed, acts 1908, Ch. 
401, see i>a<;c llo. 



Annual state 
election. 
— when held 
— officers chosen 
annually 
— officers chosen 
in 1910 

Representatives in 
Congress. 
By tiie voters of 
the County of Mid- 
dlesex and of the 
towns of Revere 
and Winthrop one 
County Commission 
and two associate 
commissioners, for 
said county and 
towns and by the 
voters of each of tlii 
other Counties, 
except the Counties 
of Suffolk and Nan- 
tucket one commis- 
sioner and two as- 
sociate commission- 
ers for the County : 
a sheriff by the 
voters of each 
County and a Dis- 
trict Attorney by 
the voters of each 
district attorney 
district. 



ELECTIONS. 

Sections igo-igg. Provides for divisions 
into wards and voting precincts. 

Sections 200-214. . .Provide for election of- 
ficers. 

Sections 215-216. Provide for voting places 
for elections. 

Sections 217-222. Relate to ballot boxes, 
voting machines, counting apparatus and 
blanks. 

Sections 223-228. Relate to the examina- 
tion, purchase and use of voting machines. 

Sections 229-244. Relate to preparation 
and form of ballots, information to voters. 
delivery of ballots, etc., at elections. 

Annual State Election. 
Section 245. The annual state election for 
the choice of governor, lieutenant governor, 
councillors,* secretary, treasurer and receiver 
general, attorney-general, auditor of accounts, 
and senators and representatives in the gen- 
eral court, shall be held on the Tuesday next 
after the first Monday in November. There 
shall also be chosen at the annual state elec- 
tion, when required by law, presidential 
electors, and, in their respective districts or 
counties, representatives in congress, district 
attorneys, clerks of the courts, registers of 
probate and insolvency, registers of deeds, 
county commissioners, associate commission- 
ers, sheriffs and country treasurers. 

Sections 246-247. Relate to calling of elec- 
tions. 

Sections 248-258. Relate to conduct of 
elections. 

Sections 259-268. Relate to manner of vot- 
ing at elections. 

82 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 

Sections 269-274. Relate to counting of 
votes at elections. 

Sections 275-298. Relate to records and 
certificates of election. 

Sections 299-302. Relate to recounts of See acts 1909, Ch. 
votes at election. 440 ' Sc '- 2 ' 

Sections 303-311. Relate to proceedings in 
cases of failure to elect and vacancies in state 
offices. 

Sections 312-313. Relate to proceedings of 
presedential elections. 

Corrupt Practices. 

Section 314. The term "political commit- Term defined. 
tee", under the provisions of this chapter rela- 
tive to corrupt practices, shall apply to every 
committee or combination of three or more 
persons who shall aid or promote the success 
or defeat of a political party or 'principle in 
a public election or shall aid or take part in 
the nomination, election or defeat of a can- 
didate for public office. 

Section 315. No person shall, in order to Cand } date f or 
aid or promote his own nomination or election nomination or elec- 
to a public office, directly or indirectly, him- appointments^' °etc St 
self or through another person, promise to 
appoint, or promise to secure or assist in 
securing the appointment, nomination or elec- 
tion of another person to a public position or 
employment or to a position of honor, trust or 
emolument, except that he may announce or 
define what is his choice or purpose in rela- 
tion to an election in which he may be called 
to take part, if elected. 

Section 316. No person shall, in order to — not to pav mom 
aid or promote his own nomination or election per'sona^expenses, 
to a public office, directly or indirectly, him- or to a political 

,, ,, , ,, . committee, 

self or through another person, give, pay, ex- 
pend or contribute, or promise to give, pay, 165 Mass. 169, 170 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 

expend or contribute, any money or other 
valuable thing, except for personal expenses 
or to a political committee as hereinafter 
provided. The words "personal expenses" 
elves' "Sed! aa ■ used in this chapter, shall include only 
expenses directly incurred and paid by a 
person for travelling and for purposes prop- 
erly incidental to travelling; for writing, 
printing and preparing for transmission any 
letter, circular, or other publication not issued 
at regular intervals, whereby he states his 
position or views upon public or other ques- 
tions; for stationery and postage; for tele- 
graph, telephone and public messenger ser- 
vice; and for other similar personal pur- 
poses, 
-may make volun- Sec tion 3 i7- A person who is nominated 
tary payment to a as a candidate or voted for with his assent 
political committee. for public ^^ may make ft voluntary pay . 

ment of money or a voluntary and uncon- 
ditional promise of payment of money to a 
political committee for the promotion of the 
principles of the party which it represents, 
and for its general purposes. 
No person to make Section 318. No person shall, directly or 
Uian^k^his ^Q lse indirectly, himself or through another person, 
name. make a payment or promise of payment to a 

political committee or to any person acting 
under its authority or in its behalf, in any 
name except his own; nor shall such commit- 
Mone.v received not tee or Person knowingly, receive a payment 
to be entered in or promise of payment, or enter or cause the 
than°that 'of^the same to be entered in the accounts or records 
giver. of such committee, in any other name than 

that of the person by whom it is made. 

Section 319. No political committee, and 

no person acting under its authority or in its 

behalf, shall demand, solicit, ask or invite, 

from a person who has been nominated as a 

84 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 

candidate for office in an election a payment Candidates not to 
of money, or promise of payment of money, ^ ^y^ e 
to be used in such election; and no such can- 
didate shall make any such payment to a 

political committee or to any person acting prohibited from 

under its authority or in its behalf, if such giving when 
committee or person has demanded, solicited, so 1C1 e ' 
asked or invited from him any such payment 
or promise of payment. 

Section 320. No political committee and no payment of nata- 
person who is required to file a statement shall ralization fees 

, - ■ . prohibited, 

make any payment or promise of payment l 

of money to or in behalf of any person for 

naturalization fees or for services as counsel 

or otherwise in assisting any one to obtain 

naturalization. 

Section 321. Every political committee shall Every political 
, , \, . . f ,, n committee to have 

have a treasurer, who is a voter of the Com- a treasurer, 

monwealth, and shall cause him to keep 

detailed accounts of all money or its equiva- Treasurer t0 kee P 
. , . , , . , J , .. * ., detailed accounts, 

lent, received by or promised to the commit- 
tee, or by or to any person acting under its 
authority or in its behalf, and of all expen- 
ditures, disbursements and promises of pay- 
ment or disbursement made by the commit- 
tee or by any person acting under its author- 
ity or in its behalf. No person acting under — - to be chosen J* 3 " 
./ ,, ., u 1. ™ 1. n • • fore an ^ Payments 

its authority or behalf shall receive any are ma d e . 

money or its equivalent, or expend or dis- 
burse the same, until the committee has cho- 
sen a treasurer. 

Section 322. Whoever, acting under the — to receive from 
authority or in behalf of a political commit- of Tecdpts^n^of 
tee, receives any money or its equivalent, or expenditures, 
promise of the same, or expends or incurs any 
liability to pay the same, shall, on demand, 
and in any event within fourteen days after 
such receipt, expenditure, promise or liability, 
give to the treasurer a detailed account of the 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 

Treasurer. same, with all vouchers .required by this 

chapter, which shall be a part of the accounts 
and files of such treasurer, 
—to file detailed Section 323. The treasurer of every politi- 

statement within 30 , al comm ittee which receives, expends or dis- 
til tf^eceipts, 60 burses any money or its equivalent, or incurs 
etc.,' exceed twenty anv liability to pay money in connection 
dollars - with any nomination or election to an amount 

exceeding twenty dollars, shall, within thirty 
days after such election, file a statement 
setting forth all the receipts, expenditures, 
disbursements and liabilities of the committee 
and of every officer and other person acting 
under its authority or in its behalf. It shall 
include the amount in each case received, the 
name of the person or committee from whom 
received, the date of its receipt, the amount 
of every expenditure or disbursement, the 
name of the person or committee to whom it 
was made, and the date thereof; and, unless 
such expenditure or disbursement was made 
to another political committee, shall clearly 
state the purpose of such expenditure or dis- 
bursement; also the date and amount of 
every existing promise or liability, both to 
and from such committee, remaining unful- 
filled and in force when the statement is 
made,*the name of the person or committee to 
or from whom the unfulfilled promise or lra- 
bility exists, and a clear statement of the pur- 
pose* for which the promise or liability was 
—if not, statement made or incurred. If the aggregate receipts or 
to that effect to be disbursements of a political committee in con- 
nied ' nection with any election shall not exceed 

twenty dollars, the treasurer of the committee 
shall, within thirty days after the election, 
certify the fact under oath to the secretary 
of the Commonwealth. 

Section 324. Whoever, acting otherwise 

. 86 



CORRUPT PRACTICES 

than under the authority or in behalf of a Other persons who 
.... . ... . . receive and expend 

political committee having a treasurer, re- monev to make and 

ceives money or its equivalent, or expends file statement 
or disburses, or promises to expend or dis- 
burse money or its equivalent, to an amount 
exceeding twenty dollars, to aid or promote 
the success or defeat of "a political party or 
principle in any election, or to aid or influ- 
ence the nomination, election or defeat of a 
candidate for office, shall file in the city or 
town in which he is a voter, the statement 
required by the preceding section, and shall 
be subject to all the duties required by this 
chapter of a political committee or the treas- 
urer thereof; but no person except a voter 
of the Commonwealth shall receive, expend or 
disburse any money or its equivalent or 
promise to expend or disburse any money 
or its equivalent, for either of the purposes 
above named, except for personal expenses as 
is herein provided, or under the authority or 
in behalf of a political committee. 

Section 325. Every candidate for nomina- Statements of all 
tion to a public office shall, within seven days p^ndjfure^^except 
after the last day of filing nominations for for personal ex- 
such office, and every candidate for election ^Sdidates 61 ^ 
to a public office shall, within seven days 
after the election held to fill such office, file 
a statement in writing setting forth each 
sum of money and thing of value contributed 
or promised by him, except for his own per- 
sonal expenses, for the pupose of securing or 
in any way affecting his nomination or elec- 
tion to such office, and the name of the politi- 
cal committee to which the contribution or 
promise was made, and the date thereof. 

Section 326. The statement required to be 
filed by a candidate, treasurer or other per- 
son shall be filed with the clerk of the city 

87 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 



Statement when or town in which •such candidate, treasurer or 

oth^than a city other person is a voter. In case the nomina- 
election to be filed tion to which such statement relates is a 
in duplicate with nom i na ti n to a state or national office, or the 
the Secretary of the ... . , .. , . .. ' 

Commonwealth. election is a state or national election, a du- 

plicate shall be filed with the secretary of the 
Commonwealth. Whoever makes a state- 
ment required by the provisions of this chap- 
ter shall make oath that it is in all respects 
correct and true to the best of his knowledge 
and belief. 



Secretary of the 
Commonwealth and 
city clerks to in- 
spect same within 
60 days. 



— if statement is 
incorrect or com- 
plaint made, delin- 
uent to be notified. 



Complaints to be 
filed within 00 
days after election, 
but may be within 
60 days. 



165 Mass. 169 



Section 327. The secretary of the Com- 
monwealth shall inspect all statements filed 
with him, and the clerks of cities shall in- 
spect all statements relating to nominations 
and to city elections filed with them, within 
sixty days after the election to which they 
relate, and if upon examination of the official 
ballot it appears that any person has failed 
to file a statement as required by law, or if 
it appears to the secretary that any such 
statement filed with him does not conform 
to law, or if it appears to a city clerk that 
such statement relating to a city nomination 
or election does not conform to law, or upon 
complaint in writing by five registered voters 
that a statement does not conform to law, or 
that any person has failed to file a statement 
required by law, the secretary or city clerk, 
shall in writing notify the delinquent person. 
Such complaint shall state in detail the 
grounds of objection, shall be sworn to by 
one of the subscribers, and shall be filed with 
the secretary or with the proper city clerk 
within ninety days after the election in ques- 
tion, or within sixty days after the filing of 
a statement or amended statement. 

Section 328. Upon the failure to file a 
statement within ten days after receiving 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 

notice under the preceding section, or if any Attorney-general or 
statement filed as above discloses any % viola- ml^institate^ro- 
tion of any provision of this chapter relating ceedings in certain 
to corrupt practices in elections, the secretary cases - 
of the Commonwealth or the city clerk, as 
the case may be, shall notify the attorney- 
general thereof and shall furnish him with 
copies of all papers relating thereto, and the 
attorney-general, within two months there- 
after, shall examine every such case, and if 
he is satisfied that there is cause, he shall in 
the name of the Commonwealth institute ap- 
propriate civil proceedings or refer the case 
to the proper district attorney for such ac- 
tion as may be appropriate in the criminal 
courts. 



Section 32g. The supreme judicial court or Courts may com- 
the superior court may compel any person n^nts^fc S •* G 
who fails to file a statement as above re- 



quired, or who files a statement which does 
not conform to the foregoing requirements in 
respect to its truth, sufficiency in detail, or 
otherwise, to file a suffcient statement, upon 
the application of the attorney-general or 
district attorney or petition of any can- 
didate voted for, or of any five persons quali- 
fied to vote at the election on account of 
which the expenditures, or any part thereof, 
were made or are alleged to have been made. 
Such petition shall be filed within sixtv days Complaints to be 

„ v , , ,. .- .. , . , * A filed within 60 days 

after such election, if the statement was filed after election, but 
within thirty days required, but a petition may be within 30 
may be filed within thirty days of any pay- days " 
ment not included in the statement so filed. Proceedings to be 
Proceedings under this section shall be ad- advanced for speedy 

■1 ,-. , , ... . - trial on request, 

vanced upon the request of either party for 

speedy trial. No petition brought under this — not to be discon- 
chapter shall ■ be discontinued without ' the con U sent. Wlth ° Ut 
consent of the attorney-general. 

89 



Witnesses not liable 
to prosecution ex- 
cept for perjury- 



Statements to be 
kept 15 months. 

— to be open to 
public inspection. 

Vouchers for pay- 
ments over five 
dollars required. 



Blank forms for 
statements to be 
furnished. 



— to whom 
furnished. 



CORRUPT PRACTICES. 

Section 330. No person who is called to 
testify in any proceedings under the preced- 
ing section shall be liable to criminal prose- 
cution under this chapter or otherwise for 
any matters or causes in respect of which he 
shall be examined or to which his testimony 
shall relate, except to prosecution for perjury 
committed in such testimony. 

Section 331. All statements shall be pre- 
served for fifteen months after the election 
to which they relate, and shall, under reason- 
able regulations, be open to public inspection. 
Section 332. Every payment required to be 
accounted for shall, unless the total expense 
payable to any one person is less than five 
dollars, be vouched for by a receipted bill 
stating the particulars of expense, and every 
voucher, receipt or account hereby required 
shall be preserved for six months after the 
election to which it relates. 

Section 333. The secretary of the Com- 
monwealth shall at the expense of the Com- 
monwealth furnish to the city and town 
clerks, and in Boston to the election com- 
missioners, blanks in form approved by the 
secretary and by the attorney-general, suit- 
able for the statements required by law. On 
the receipt of a list of candidates for public 
office before a caucus or primary, or upon the 
filing of a nomination before a municipal elec- 
tion, the election commissioners in Boston, 
and the clerk of any other city or the town- 
clerk shall transmit to the candidate or candi- 
dates put in nomination, and to the treasurers 
of political committees, the blanks above de- 
scribed. Upon the filing of a nomination be- 
fore a state or national election the secretary 
of the Commonwealth shall transmit to the 
candidate or candidates put in nomination, 



INQUESTS, ETC. 

and to the treasurers of the political commit- 
tees, the blanks above described. To any per- 
son required to file a statement such blanks 
shall be furnished upon application therefor. 

Section 334. The provisions of this chapter to whom the pro- 
relative to corrupt practices shall apply to visions relative to 
all public elections, except of town officers, ™ r p ™ pt P ractices 
and to elections by the general court and by 
city councils, and by either branch thereof, 
to the nomination by primaries, caucuses and 
conventions and nomination papers of can- 
didates to be voted for at such elections. 

Sections three hundred and fourteen, three certain provisions 

hundred and sixteen and three hundred and not to apply to cer- 
eighteen shall not apply to the proprietors tain P ublisners - 
and publishers of publications issued at regu- 
lar intervals, in respect to the ordinary con- 
duct of their business. 

Inquest in Caucus, Convention, and Election 
Cases. 

Section 335. Upon a complaint subscribed Inquests in cases of 
°~ D . r , - 1. violation of laws 

and sworn to by any person before a police, relating to caucuses, 
district or municipal court or a trial justice, conventions, etc. 
alleging that reasonable grounds exist for 
believing that any law relating to the assess- 
ment, qualification or registration of voters, 
or to voting lists or ballots, or to caucuses, 
primaries, conventions and elections, or to 
any matters pertaining thereto, has been vio- 
lated, such court or justice may at once 
hold an inquest to inquire into such alleged 
violation of the law. 

Sections 336-341. Relate to mode of pro- 
cedure in inquests in election cases. 

Sections 342-354. Relate to officers to be See P a § e 82 - 
elected at state elections. 

Sections 355-393. Provisions applying to 
towns. 

91 



PENALTIES UPON OFFICERS. 

Penalties on Officers. 

Penalty on assessor Section 3 94- An assessor or assistant as^ 
or assistant assessor sessor w ho knowingly enters on any list of 
assessed polls, or causes or allows to be 
entered thereon, the name of any person as 
a resident of a building, who is not a resi- 
dent thereof, shall for each offence be pun- 
ished by imprisonment for not more than 
six months, 
-on registrar or Section 395. A registrar or assistant reg- 

assistant registrar. i s trar who refuses or wilfully neglects to re- 
quire, under section forty-seven, an applicant 
for registration to read the five lines from the 
constitution of the Commonwealth in, such 
manner as to show that he is neither prompt- 
ed nor reciting from memory, or to write his 
name in the register, unless he is prevented 
by physical disability from so doing, or unless 
he had the right to vote on the first day of 
May in the year eighteen hundred and fifty- 
seven, or distinctly to announce the name of 
an applicant for registration before entering 
his name upon the register, or who knowing- 
ly prevents or seeks to prevent the registra 
tion of any legal voter, or who knowingly 
registers the name of any person not qualified 
to vote, or who is guilty of any fraud or cor- 
rupt conduct in the execution of the duties 
of his office, ' shall be punished by imprison- 
ment for not more than six months. 

Section 396. A member of the listing board 
or a poUce officer in Boston who knowingly 
enters on any list of male persons or women 
voters, or causes, or allows to be entered 
thereon, the name of any person as a resi- 
dent of a building, who is not a resident 
thereof, shall for each offence be punished 
by imprisonment for not more than one year. 



— on member, of 
listing board or 
police officer in 
P.oston. 



PENALTIES UPON OFFICERS. 

Section 397. A member of the listing board Penalty , 
of a police officer in Boston upon whom a duty ^t^^^or 
is imposed by this chapter, who refuses or police officer in 
wilfully neglects or wilfully fails to perform Boston, 
such duty, or who wilfully performs it con- 
trary to law, shall for each offence, if no 
other penalty is specifically imposed therefor, 
be punished by imprisonment for not more 
than one year. 

Section 398. An officer of a primary, cau- — on officer of pri- 
cus or convention who knowingly makes any mar y, caucus or 
.. , j. * v 11 * 4- 1 convention making 

false count of ballots or votes, or makes a f a i se count, etc. 

false statement or declaration of the result 
of a ballot or vote, or knowingly refuses to 
receive any ballot offered by a person quali- 
fied to vote as such primary, caucus or con- 
vention, or wilfully alters, defaces or destroys 
any ballots cast, or voting lists used thereat, 
before the requirements of this chapter have 
been complied with, or declines or wilfully 
fails to receive any written request made as 
therein required, or declines or wilfully fails 
to perform any duty or obligation imposed 
thereby shall be punished by imprisonment 
for not more than three months. 

Any such presiding officer, secretary or „ " 

j , - , ° ... „ . , — on officer of a 

clerk of a caucus who wilfully neglects or re- caucus violating 
fuses to comply with the requirements of sec- section 111, 
tion one hunded and eleven shall be pun- 
ished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars 
for each offence. 

Section 399. A caucus officer who violates 

. ,, . . - , , — on caucus officer 

any of the provisions of section one hundred violating section 101 
and one shall be punished by imprisonment 
for not more than one year. 

Section 400. Imposes penalty on supervi- 
sors at a state election. 

Section 401. Imposes penalty on an elec- 
tion officer who makes statement of number 
of ballots cast, etc., at elections. 
93 



Penalty 
on presiding, 
officer at a caucus, 
etc., when right to 
vote is challenged. 



— on primary or 
other officer whose 
duty it is to re- 
count ballots. 



— on primary or 
other officer violat- 
ing any provision 
for return of bal- 
lots, etc. 



PENALTIES UPON OFFICERS. 

Section 402. A presiding officer at a caucus. 
primary or state or city election, or at an 
election in a town at which official ballots 
are used, who, when the right of a person of- 
fering to vote is challenged for any legal 
cause, wilfully or negligently fails to require 
the name and residence of such person to be 
written upon the ballot offered by him, and 
to add thereto the name of the person chal- 
lenging and the assigned cause, before such 
ballot is received, shall be punished by im- 
prisonment for not more than one year. 

Section 403. A primary, election or other 
officer, whose duty it is to recount the bal- 
lots cast at a primary or election, who makes 
any statement or gives any information in re- 
gard to a ballot cast by a voter challenged at 
such primary or election, except as required 
by law, shall be punished by imprisonment for 

not more than one year. 

Section 404- Imposes a penalty on the pre- 
siding officer at a town election who reads, 

etc., ballots. 

"s^H^o^STXln^ 

■ who wilfully or negligently violates any pro- 
vision relating to the enclosing in envelopes, 
sealing, indorsing and delivering or transmit- 
ting of ballots and voting lists after the 
votes have been counted and recorded, shall 
be punished by imprisonment for not more 

than one year. 

^ction^ooT^mposes a penalty on officials 
for examining certain ballots cast at an elec- 
tion. 

Section 407. Imposes a penalty on officials 
who fail to make a record, etc., of votes cast 
at an election. 



PENALTIES UPON OFFICERS AND VOTERS. 

Section 408. Imposes a penalty on officials 
who wilfully sign false certificates of election. 

Section 409. Imposes penalty on select- 
men who wilfully give a false certificate. 

Section 410. A public officer, primary, cau- Penalty 
cus or election officer, or officer or member of ^r ° offlce^^offlcer 
a political committee or convention, upon or member of po- 
whom a duty is imposed by law, who refuses Htieal committee or 
MJ , „ . , .,, „ , ., , convention failing to 

or wilfully neglects or wilfully fails to per- perform a duty. 

form such duty, or who wilfully performs it 

, . , « « n x. J* --c -00 Mass. 318 

contrary to law, shall for each offence, if no 

other penalty is herein specifically imposed 

therefor, be punished by a fine of not less 

than five nor more than one thousand dollars, 

or by imprisonment for not more than one 

year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 

A primary or election officer in the city of — on primary or 

Boston who knowingly permits or aids in the Boston 1 ° ° er n 

violation of any provisions of law relating 

to registration, primaries or elections, shall 

be punished by imprisonment in the state 

prison for not more than three years or in 

the house of correction for not less than six 

months. 

Penalties on Voters. 

Section 411. Whoever at a primary or cau- Penalty 

cus votes or attempts to vote, knowing that for illegal voting 
I" r ' n or attempting to 

he is not entitled to do, or votes or at- vote, 
tempts to vote upon any name other than his 181 Mass. 190 
own, or more than once on his own name, or 
casts or attempts to cast more than one bal- 
lot, or places any . distinguishing mark upon 
a ballot, or makes a false statement as to tinguishing mark 
his ability to mark his ballot, or unlawfully on ballot, 
allows the marking of his ballot to be seen 
by any person, or gives a false answer to, making o7 ballot 
or makes a false oath before, a presiding offi- to be seen. 



PENALTIES UrON VOTERS. 



— for giving false 
answer or making 
false oath. 
— for violation of 
provisions of sec- 
tion 101 as to tak 
ing an oath. 
181 Mass. 190 

— for placing dis- 
tinguishing mark 
on ballot at a pri- 
mary or election. 



— for making false 
statements as to 
inability to mark 
ballots, etc. 



— for illegal voting 
or attempting to 
vote at a pri- 
mary, etc. 



cer, shall be punished by imprisonment for 
not more than six months. 

Section 412. A voter who violates any of 
the provisions of section one hundred an one 
shall be punished by imprisonment for not 
more than one year. 

Section 413. A voter who, at a primary or 
election, places any distinguishing mark upon 
his ballot shall be punished by imprisonment 
for not more than six months. 

Section 414. A voter who makes a false 
statement as to his inability to mark a bal- 
lot, or who, except for the purpose of obtain- 
ing assistance under section two hundred 
and sixty-two, allows his ballot to be seen 
by any person with an intention of indicating 
how he is about to vote shall be punished br 
a fine of not more than one hundred dollars. 

Section 415. Whoever at a primary or 
election, knowing that he is not a qualified 
voter in the place where he votes or attempts 
to vote, wilfully votes or attempts to vote 
thereat; whoever at a primary or election 
votes or attempts to vote more than once on 
his own name, his name having been 
registered more than once; whoever at 
a primary or election votes or attempts 
to vote in more than one voting pre- 
cinct or town, his name having been 
registered in more than one voting precinct or 
town; whoever at a primary or election votes 
or attempts to vote on any name other than 
his own, or knowingly casts or attempts to 
cast more than one ballot at one time of bal- 
loting; whoever at a primary or election votes 
or attempts to vote otherwise illegally; or 
whoever aids or abets any other person in do.- 
ing any of the acts above mentioned, shall 

06 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

be punished by imprisonment for not more 

than one year. 

Section 416. Whoever at a primary or elec- Penalty 

tion wilfully gives a false answer to a presid- ^° r giving a 

~* , „ , . , , , „ - false answer at a 

ing officer shall be punished by a fine of not primary, etc 

more than one hundred dollars. 
General Penalties. 

Section 417. Whoever, being an inmate of — for refusal to 
a building and liable to be assessed for a poll fo^t^et^,' to" 
tax, refuses or neglects to give his true name an assessor. 
when asked by an assessor or assistant asses- 
sor, or whoever, being an owner or occupant of 
a building, refuses or neglects to give the full 
and true information within his knowledge 
relating to all persons residing in such build- 
ing, when asked by an assessor or assistant 
assessor, shall be punished by imprisonment 
for not more than three months. 

Section 418. Whoever in Boston, being an in- f r refusal, etc., 

mate of a building and a male resident twenty in Boston, 
years of age or upward, refuses or neglects to 
give nis true name, when asked by a member 
of the listing board or a police officer acting 
under this chapter, or whoever, being an 
owner or occupant of a building, or a clerk 
superintendent, manager or other person hav- 
ing in charge the affairs of a hotel or lodging 
house, refuses or neglects to give the full and 
true information within his knowledge relat- 
ing to all persons residing in such building, 
when asked by a member of the listing board 
or a police officer acting under this chapter 
shall be punished by imprisonment for not 
more than three months. 

Section 419. Whoever knowingly gives to for giving name 

an assessor or assistant assessor, for the pur- -of non-resident to 
pose of the assessment of a poll tax, or in ass ^ sor * 
Boston to a member of the listing board or 



Penalty 
for making a 
false affidavit, etc., 
as to qualifications 
for assessment or 
registration. 



— for making false 
affidavit, etc., as to 
qualifications for 
being listed in 
Boston. 



— for registering 
when not qualified 
false representa- 
tions, etc. 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

a police officer, for the purpose of making a 
list of male residents twenty years of age or 
upwards or women voters, the name of any 
person as a resident of a building, who is not 
a resident therein, shall be punished by im- 
prisonment for not more than one year. 

Section 420. Whoever knowingly or wil- 
fully makes a false affidavit, takes a false 
oath or signs a false certificate relative to 
the qualifications of any person for assess- 
ment or registration, or in Boston for being 
listed or given a certificate by the listing 
board, shall be punished by imprisonment for 
not more than one year. 

Section 421. Whoever in Boston aids or 
abets a person in knowingly or wilfully mak- 
ing a false affidavit, taking a false oath or 
signing a false certificate, relative to the 
qualifications of any person for being listed 
as a resident thereof or given a certificate of 
such residence by the listing board, shall be 
punished by imprisonment for not more than 
one year. 

Section 422. Whoever causes or attempts 
' to cause his name to be registered, knowing 
that he is not a qualified voter in the place of 
such registration or attempted registration; 
whoever registers or attempts to register un- 
der a name other than his own; whoever rep- 
resents or attempts to represent himself as 
some other person to any election commis- 
sioner, registrar or assistant registrar; who- 
ever gives a false answer to any election com- 
missioner, registrar or assistant registrar re- 
specting any matter relating to his registra- 
tion or his right to vote; whoever otherwise 
illegally registers or attempts to register; or 
whoever aids or abets any other person in 
doing any of the acts above mentioned, shall 

98 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

be punished by imprisonment for not more 
than one year. 

Section 423. Whoever refuses to obey the Penalty 

for rpfusftl to 
lawful orders or directions of an election com- obe lawful orders 

missioner, a registrar or assistant registrar, of officials in Con- 
or interrupts or disturbs the proceedings at nection J* 1 *^ 
any registration, shall be punished by a fine 
of not more than one hundred dollars. 

Section 424. Whoever interferes with, or —for interfering 
., , , . , r . .,, with a supervisor 

aids or abets any person m interfering with, of registration. 

any supervisor of registration in the perform- 
ance of his duty, shall be punished by impris- 
onment for not more than one year. 

Section 425. Whoever wilfully defaces or — for removing or 
removes a notice relating to the registration etc^refating^tlf' 
of voters, or a voting list or notice or warrant registration. 
for an election posted in a city or town shall 
be punished by imprisonment for not more 
than one year. 

Section 426. Whoever aids or abets a per- — f °r aiding or 
■u • x i-n j x x x- abetting in illegal 

son, who is not entitled to vote, in voting or voting. 

attempting to vote at a primary or caucus, or isi Mass. 189 
in voting or attempting to vote under a name 
other than his own, or in casting or attempt- 
ing to cast more than one ballot, or wilfully 
and without lawful authority hinders, delays 
or interferes with, or aids in hindering, de- 
laying or interfering with, a voter while on 
his way to a primary or caucus, while mark- 
ing his ballot or while voting or attempting 
to vote, or endeavors to induce a voter to 
show his ballot, shall be punished by impris- 
onment for not more than one year. 

Section 427. Whoever alters a ballot cast —for +1 , aIt . eri ° g ^ or 
^ ' . _ . ., unauthorized de- 

at a primary or caucus or, not being author- positing or remov- 
ized thereto, deposits a ballot in a ballot box ing ballot, 
or envelope used at a primary or caucus, or 
removes a ballot from such ballot box or 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

envelope, shall be punished by imprisonment 
in jail for not more than three years. 
Penalty Section 428. Whoever falsely makes or wil- 

ing, fiiingf suppress- fully alters l defaces, mutilates, destroys or 
ing, defacing, etc., suppresses a certificate of nomination or nom- 
tfon ifi pa a pe e r orTetTer. ination P a P er > or letter of withdrawal of a 
163 Mass. 539 name from such paper, or unlawfully signs 

any such certificate, paper or letter, or files 
any such certificate, paper or letter, knowing 
the same to be falsely made or altered, shall 
be punished by imprisonment for not more 
than one year. 

— for notaries, etc.. Section 429. Whoever as a notary public, 

fdenmy^f 3 ^^^ ' J ustice of the P eace or other magistrate takes 
of nomination the oath of a signer to a nomination paper 

P a P er - without satisfying himself that the person to 

whom the oath is administered is the signer 
of such nomination paper, or who shall fail 
to state in his attestation of such oath that 
he is so satisfied, shall be punished by a fine 
of not less than ten or more than fifty dol- 
lars. 

—for writing, Section 430. Whoever intentionally writes, 

distributing? 8 e£?! prints, posts or distributes, or causes to be 
anonymous circu- written, printed, posted or distributed, a cir- 
lars, etc. cular or poster which is designed or tends to 

injure or defeat any candidate for nomination 
or election to any public office, by criticising 

As amended Acts his personal character or political action, or 

1910 Cli ;>.» Sc 3 

Amendment in which is designed or tends to aid, injure, or 

italics. defeat a constitutional amendment or unit 

other question submitted to the voters, un- 
less there appears upon such circular or 
poster in a conspicuous place either the names 
of the chairman and secretary, or of two offi- 
cers of the political or other organization is- 
suing the same, or of some voter who is re- 
sponsible therefor, with his name and resi- 

100 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

dence, and the street and number thereof, if 
any, shall be punished by imprisonment for 
not more than six months. 

Section 431. Whoever wilfully obstructs or penalty 
intereferes with the transmission of ballots for obstructing, 
or returns to or from a polling place shall be bsaiots^tcT S to°or° 
punished by imprisonment for not more than from a polling place 
one year. 

Section 432. Whoever posts, circulates or f or posting, cir- 

distributes any poster, card, handbill, placard, culating, etc., 

. , • 1 4. 2. i printed matter in 

picture or circular, except a paster to be ^ ncl about polling 

placed upon the official ballot, intended to in- places, 
fluence the action of a voter, in the polling 
place, in the building in which the polling 
place is located or on the walls thereof, on 
the premises on which the building stands, or 
on the sidewalk adjoining said premises, shall 
be punished by a fine of not more than twenty 
dollars. 

Section 433. Imposes penalty for destroy- 
ing ballot-boxes, etc. 

Section 434. Whoever refuses or wilfully — for refusing to 
neglects to comply with any regulation made comply with regu- 
by the election commissioners, aldermen or authorities. 
selectmen relative to the manner of receiving, 
counting and returning votes east at a pri- 
mary or election, or relative to the use of 
seals and ballot boxes, shall be punished by 
imprisonment for not more than six months. f interfering 

Section 435. Whoever interferes, or aids or etc., with election 
abets any person in interfering with an elec- officers, etc., in per 
,. . . ., .11 i formance of their 

tion commissioner, city or town clerk, or elec- duties. 

tion officer, in the performance of his duties 
shall be punished by imprisonment for not 
more than one year. 

Section 436. Imposes a penalty for pre- 
venting supervisors at elections from perform- 
ing their duties. 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 



Penalty 
for defacing, 
destroying, etc., 
lists, cards, bal- 
lots, supplies, etc. 



Section 437. Imposes a penalty for print- 
ing, etc., unauthorized ballots for moderator 
at a town meeting. 

Section 438. Whoever, before a primary or 
election, wilfully defaces or destroys any list 
of candidates posted under the provisions of 
this chapter, or, during a caucus, primary or 
election, wilfully defaces, tears down, removes 
or destroys any card instruction or specimen 
ballot posted for the instruction of voters, 
or during a caucus, primary or election, wil- 
fully removes or destroys any of the supplies 
or conveniences furnished to enable a voter to 
prepare his ballot, shall be punished by a fine 
of not more than one hundred dollars. 

— for forging en- Section 439. Whoever forges or falsely 

SfoT delayi e ng r0 d^ makes the official indorsement on any ballot, 
livery of ballots, or wilfully destroys or defaces a ballot, or wil- 
fully delays the delivery of any ballots, shall 
be punished by imprisonment for not more 
than one year. 



— for obstructing 
or delaying a 
voter. 



— for interfering 
with voter, or in- 
ducing voter to 
sbow ballot. 



Section 440. Whoever wilfully and without 
lawful authority obstructs or delays a voter 
while on his way to the polling place where he 
is entitled to vote or while he is voting or 
attempting to vote, or aids or assists in any 
such obstruction or delay, shall be punished 
by imprisonment for not more than one year 

Section 441. Whoever interferes or at- 
tempts to interfere with a voter while he is 
marking his ballot or is within the space en- 
closed by the guard rail, or endeavors to in- 
duce a voter, before he has voted, to show 
how he marks or has marked his ballot, shall 
be punished by a fine of not more than one 
hundred dollars. 



102 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

Section 442. Whoever wilfully obstructs —for obstructing 
the voting at a primary or election shall be ™ election, 
punished by a fine of not more than one hun- 
dred dollars. 

Section 443. Whoever aids or abets a per- penalty 
son who is not qualified to vote at a primary for aiding or 
or election in voting or attempting to vote, or fn| ga i n vo ting. 
aids or abets a person in voting or attempt- 
ing to vote under a name other than his own, 
or in casting or attempting to cast more than 
one ballot at one time of balloting, shall be 
punished by imprisonment for not more than 
one year. 

Section 444. Whoever places a mark _f or marking bal- 
against a name on a ballot not cast by him- lot not cast by him- 
... . j« j.- 'v- i self contrary to law 

self, or places a distinguishing mark on a 

ballot not cast by himself, except as author- 
ized by law, shall be punished by imprison- 
ment in jail for not more than three years. 

Section 445. Whoever, with intent to de- — for altering, de- 



fraud, alters a ballot cast at a primary or ^^anot^^r" 
election; or, with such intent, deposits a bal- mary or election 
lot in the ballot box used at a primary or with intent to 
election, or in an envelope provided by law 
for the preservation of ballots cast at a pri- 
mary or election; or, with such intent, re- 
moves a ballot from any such ballot box or 
envelope, shall be punished by imprisonment 
in jail for not more than three years. 

Section 446. Whoever removes a ballot — for removlnfe 

from the space enclosed by the guard rail be- balIot from enclosed 
, ,, s _ ,, .," , ° _ • t j space before close 

fore the close of the polls shall be punished f po iis. 

by imprisonment for not more than one year. 

Section 447. Imposes a penalty on employ- 
ers who deprive employees of opportunities to 
vote at a state election. 

Section 448. Imposes a penalty for at- 
tempting to influence voters by threats, etc. 

103 



GENERAL PENALTIES. 

—for paying, giving Section 449. Whoever pays or gives, or di- 
or promising any- rectly or indirectly promises to a voter any 

thing to influence J , . . i v- 4.~ +~ ; n 

a voter. gift or reward to influence his vote or to m- 

184 Mass. 412 duce him to withhold his vote shall be pun- 

ished by imprisonment for not more than one 
year. 
Penalty Section 450. Whoever, at a caucus, pri- 

co f n auc?a t d aca y ueu, ™ry or election, behaves in a disorderly man- 
primary, etc. ner, and, after notice from the presiding om- 

cer, persists in such behavior and refuses to 
withdraw from the polling place, shall be 
punished by imprisonment for not more than 
thirty days, 
—for disobeying Section 451. Whoever wilfully disobeys 

orders of caucus or anv lawful command of an election, caucus or 
primary officers. primary omcer shall be punished by impris- 
onment for not more than thirty days, 
—for not removing Section 452. Whoever, when so ordered by 
pipe, cigar, liquor, tne presiding officer of an election, caucus, 
etc ' primary or meeting, refuses or fails to re- 

move any pipe, cigar, cigarette or liquor, or 
to withdraw from the polling place, as pro- 
vided by section *two hundred and fifty-six, 
shall be punished by a fine of not more than 
twenty dollars, 
—for giving in- Section 453. Whoever gives any informa- 

formation regarding tion derived from a recount of votes, relative 
challenged votes. tQ a ballot cagt by a challenged voter at an 
election, caucus or primary, shall be punished 
by imprisonment for not more than one year. 

♦Section 256. Any person who, during an 
election or town meeting, shall, in a polling place 
or place of such meeting, smoke or have in his 
possession a lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette, or 
carry into any such place or keep therein any 
intoxicating liquor, shall be deemed guilty of dis- 
orderly conduct ; and the presiding officer shall 
order him to remove such pipe, cigar, cigarette or 
liquor, or to withdraw from such place, and for 
disobedience of such order shall cause him to be 
removed from such polling place or meeting. 

104 



ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS. 

Section 454. Whoever violates any pro- — for violation of 
vision of law relating 'to corrupt practices in ^corrupt practices, 
elections the punishment for which is not 
specially determined by law, shall be pun- 
ished by imprisonment for not more than 
one year or by a fine of not more than one 
thousand dollars. 

Section 455. The supreme judicial court Supreme and su- 
and the superior court shall have jurisdiction g| V e jurisdiction to 
at law or in equity or by mandamus to en- enforce, 
force the provisions of this chapter. Police 180 Mass. 54S 
officers and constables shall arrest without a Officers to arrest 
warrant any person detected in the act of without warrant, 
violating the caucus, primary or election laws. 
A prosecution for the violation of any pro- Prosecutions not to 
vision of this chapter shall not, unless the %$*£* ™ £%£* 
purposes of justice require such disposition, by trial, etc. 
be placed on file or disposed of except by 
trial and judgment according to the regular 
course of criminal proceedings. It shall be 
disposed of otherwise only upon motion in 
writing stating specifically the reasons there- 
for and verified by affidavit if facts are relied 
on. If the court or magistrate certifies in 
writing that he is satisfied that the cause re- 
lied on exists and that the interests of public 
justice require the allowance of the motion 
the motion shall be allowed and the certificate 
of the court or magistrate shall be filed in 
the case. 

Section 456. Repeals former statutes. 



ACTS OF 1907. 

Acts of 1907. 

Chapter 543. 

An Act Relative to the Nomination of Sena- 
tors from the First Hampden District and 
from the Third Middlesex District and to 
the Election of Members of State Political 
Committees from Said Districts. 



Nominations of can- 
didates for Sena- 
tors in first Hamp- 
den and third 
Middlesex districts, 



— for members of 
state committee 
from said district. 



Provision of law 
that apply. 



Section i. Nominations by political parties 
of candidates for state senators from the first 
Hampden district, and the third Middlesex 
district shall be made in caucuses by direct 
plurality vote. 

Section 2. Members of state political com- 
mittees from the senatorial districts named in 
section one shall be elected by direct plurality 
vote in the caucuses held for nominating sen- 
ators from said districts. 

Section 3. All provisions of law relative to 
caucuses of political parties and to nomina- 
tions and elections in caucuses by direct plu- 
rality vote and to ballots, returns, and the 
duties of city clerks and registrars, so far as 
they are applicable, shall apply to caucuses 
and elections held in accordance with the pro- 
visions of this act. 

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon 
its passage. 



ACTS OF 1907. 



Chapter 581. 

An Act to Prohibit the Publication of Unsigned 
Political Advertisements, and the Making 
by Certain Corporations, of Political Contri- 
butions. 

Section i. No person shall publish or cause Newspapers etc., 
. , .i-i.-,- .1 • not to publish any 

to be published in a newspaper or other pen- matter tending to 
odical, either in its advertising or reading col- aid or defeat a 
umns, any paid matter which is designed or P° litlcal candidate - 
tends to aid, injure, or defeat any candidate 

for public office, or a constitutional amend- -As amended, Acts 

* ' .. , ... , . 1910. Ch. 55. 8c. 1. 

merit or any other question submitted to Amendment in 

the voters, unless the name of the chair- italics. 

man or secretary or the names of two officers 

of the political or other organization insert- „ tJ . , , . 

,, r ,, ° , , Matter inserted in 

mg the same, or the name of some voter who leading columns to 
is responsible therefor, with his residence and be marked 
the street and number thereof, if any, appear ' ^ ei lbemen ■ 
therein in the nature of a signature. Such 
matter inserted in reading columns shall be 
preceded or followed by the word "Advertise- 
ment" in a separate line, in type not smaller 
than that of the body type of the newspaper 
or other periodical. 

Section 2. No person shall pay the owner, Payment to owner, 
editor, publisher, or agent of a newspaper or ^'X^f ^ a po e r 5 
other periodical to induce him editorially to of or opposition to 

advocate or oppose any candidate for public a c 1 a ? < 5 d i te 
~ ..*. i • • 1 ^ prohibited. 

office or political principle, or a constitu- 
tional amendment or any other question Amended 1910-55- 
suhmitted to the voters, and no such owner, 
editor, publisher, or agent shall accept 
such payment. This provision shall not ap- 
ply to the outright purchase of such newspa- No such owner 
per or periodical. payment 

107 



ACTS OF 1907. 

Certain corporations Section 3. No corporation carrying on the 
make^c^rfbuUons business of a bank, trust, surety, indemnity, 
to aid or defeat safe deposit, insurance, railroad, street rail- 

nomination or elec- way telegraph, telephone, gas, electric light, 
tion of candidates. . V B r~» r » s > e » 

heat, power, canal, aqueduct, or water com- 
pany, or any company having the right to 
take or condemn land or to exercise fran- 
chises in public ways granted by the Com- 
monwealth or by any county, city or town, 
and no trustee or trustees owning or holding 
the majority of the stock of such a corpora- 
tion, shall pay or contribute in order to aid, 
promote, or prevent the nomination or elec- 
tion of any person to public office, or in order 
to aid, promote or antagonize the interests of 
any political party, or to influence or affect 
the vote on any question submitted to the 
voters. No person shall solicit or receive such 
payment or contribution from such corpora- 
tion or such holders of stock. 
Penalty. Section 4. Any corporation which violates 

any provision of this act shall be punished 
by a fine of not more than ten thousand dol- 
lars, and any officer, director, or agent of a 
corporation violating any provision of this 
act, who authorizes such violation, or any per- 
son who violates, or in any way knowingly 
aids or abets the violation of, any provision of 
this act, shall be punished by a fine of not 
more than one thousand dollars, or by impris- 
onment for not more than one year. 

Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 
first day of October, in the year 1907. 



ACTS OF 1908. 

•Chapter 85. 

An Act relative to Corrupt Practices in Elec- 
tions. 
Section i. No political committee, and no 

person acting under its authority or in :ts ^ttee^etcf to°°d£ 

behalf, shall demand or solicit from any per- mand from candi- 
, ,. -. , r ,. , date for nomina- 

son who is a candidate for nomination to elec- tion payment, etc., 

live office, or from any one acting in his be- for obtaining nomi- 
nation papers. 
half, a payment of money or a promise ot 

payment of money, as a prerequisite to his 
obtaining from such committee or its agent 
the nomination papers required by the pro- 
visions of sections one hundred and nineteen 
to one hundred and twenty-six, inclusive, of 
chapter five hundrel and sixty of the acts of 
the year nineteen hundred and seven. 

Section 2. Whoever violates the provisions 
of this act shall be punished by a fine of not Penalty 
more than one hundred dollars. 



Chapter 345. 

An Act relative to the Nomination of Senator 

from the First Worcester District, and to 

the Election of Members of State Political 

Committees from said District. 

Section 1. Nominations by political parties Nomination of can- 
of candidates for state senator from the first f^^st^worc^ter 
Worcester district shall be made in caucuses district, 
by direct plurality vote. 



—for member of 
state committee 
from said district. 



Provisions of law 
that apply. 



ACTS OF 1908. 
Section 2. Members of state political com- 
mittees from said district sliafl be elected by 
direct plurality vote in the caucuses held 
for nominating a senator from said district. 

Section 3. All provisions of law relative 1o 
caucuses of political parties and to nomina- 
tions and elections in caucuses by direct plu- 
rality vote and to ballots, returns, and the 
duties of city clerks and registrars, so far 
as they are applicable, shall apply to cau- 
cuses and elections held in accordance with 
the provisions of this act. 

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon 
its passage. 

Chapter 4G1. 



An Act relative to the Publication of Official 
Ballots for State and City Elections. 
Chapter five hundred and sixty of the acts 

of the year nineteen hundred and seven is 
Secretary of Com- hereby amended by striking out section two 
monwealth to cause hundred and forty-one and inserting in place 
to be published a ,. - ,, , ,, « ,. ^, m , 

list of candidates thereof the following: — Section 241. The 
to be voted for in secretary of the commonwealth before every 
District except In state election shall cause to be published a 



County of Suffolk. 



list of all candidates to be voted for in eadb 
senatorial district, except in the county of 
Suffolk, and the question of the approval and 
ratification of any proposed amendment to the 
constitution, and the city clerks, in Boston 
the election commissioners, before every city 
election shall cause to be published a list of 
110 



ACTS OF 1908. 
all candidates to be voted for in their respec- 
tive cities. Such lists and questions shall be 
in the form, as near as may be, in which they 
are to appear upon the official ballot, and said 
publication shall be made for state elections 
in each senatorial district in at least four 
newspapers in the English language, if there 
are so many in that district, except in the 
county of Suffolk, and in the county of Suf- 
folk such publication shall be made in at 
least four newspapers in the English language 
published therein. Such publication, so far 
as is practicable, shall be in newspapers rep- 
resenting the two leading political parties, 
and at such reasonable cost as may be de- 
termined by the secretary of the common- 
wealth. For city elections such publication 
shall be made in at least two newspapers 
representing the two leading political parties, 
if there be so many in the city, devoted 
wholly or chiefly to the publication of general 
or local news. 



Chapter 480. 



An Act to authorize an extension of the time Police Commissioner 
allowed for the Listing of Voters in the fur^timTfor*^ 6 
City of Boston. completing visita- 

e--. T4 . . ,, ,. tion for listing vot- 

bection i. If in any year the police com- ers in Boston 

missioner for the city of Boston shall believe As amended, word 
it to be impracticable, because of any pub- Jg* $<££* May. 
lie exigency requiring unusual service from ^.ctfs 1909, Ch. 440. 
4.1 ,. - - ,, ., , . . .,_ . 8c. 2. Amendment 

the police force of the city, to complete within in italics. 

the first seven week days of April the house 



ACTS OF 1908. 
to-house visitation provided for by section 
seventy of chapter five hundred and sixty of 
the acts of the year nineteen hundred and 
seven, and to transmit to the election com- 
misioners on or before the eighteenth day of 
.4s amended, word A])ril the lists described in section seventy 

ilacl o?Vo?d May. on ' e of said <*apter, he sha]1 have authority, 
.4r/.s' li)<)9, Ch. 440. after having given notice in writing to the 
8c. 2. Amendment .. 1x1.1 a c 1 *• 

in italics. listing board and the board of election com- 

missioners of the city, to take such further 
time for said visitation and transmission, not 
exceeding ten week days, as he shall deem 
necessary. 

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon 
its passage. 



Chapter 483. 

An Act to Prohibit the Making of Political 

Contributions by Business Corporations. 

Business corpora- Section 1. No business corporation incor- 

tions prohibited porated under the laws of, or doing business 
from making politi- 
cal contributions. in this commonwealth, and no officer or agent 

acting in behalf of such corporation, shall 
pay or contribute in order to aid, promote or 
prevent the nomination or election of any per 
son to public office or in order to aid, promote 
or antagonize the interests of any political 
No corpoiation to party. No person shall solicit or receive such 
payment or contribution from such corpora- 
tion. 

Section 2. Any corporation violating the 
provisions of this act shall be punished by a 
fine of not more than ten thousand dollars. 



ACTS OF 1908. 
and any officer, director or agent of a corpor- 
ation violating any provision of this act or 
authorizing such violation, shall be punished ena y " 
by a fine of not more than five thousand dol- 
lars or by imprisonment for not more than six 
months. 

Section 3. Nothing in this act shall be Provisions of Chap- 
J » ter 581, Act 1907 

construed as affecting the provisions of chap- not affected. 

ter five hundred and eighty-one of the acts 

of the year nineteen hundred and seven. 

Chapter 518. 

An Act to Limit the Number of Persons that 

may be employed by Political Committees 

in cities. 

Section 1. The number of persons that Not exceeding six 
r g m persons to be em- 

may be employed by political committees in ployed by a politi- 

... - " . j, cal committee in 

cities for any purpose, except as caucus om- g^^ vo ting pre- 

cers, shall not exceed six persons in each cinct in cities, 
voting precinct of the city. In cities, or parts 
therof, not divided into precints, the number — or in each ward 
shall not exceed six for each ward. 

Section 2. Whoever violates any provision Penalty 
of this act shall be punished by a fine not 
exceeding one hundred dollars, or by impris- 
onment for not exceeding three months, or 
by both such fine and imprisonment. 



ACTS OF 1909. 



ACTS OF 1909. 

An Act relative to the Nomination of Candi- 
dates for Senator and Members of State 
and District Political Committees in the 
First Essex Senatorial District. 

Chapter 356. 

Nominations for Section 1. Nominations by political par- 

senator how ties of candidates for state senator from the 

made - first Essex senatorial district shall be made in 

caucuses by direct plurality vote. 

«g ta t e an ci pj S _ Section 2. Members of state and district 

trict Political political committees from the first Essex 

Con l™ ittees ' how senatorial district shall be elected in caucuses 

by direct plurality vote. 

Canvassing Board, Section 3. Returns of caucuses held under 

how constituted. the foregoing sections shall be made according 

to the provisions of section one hundred and 

thirty-seven of chapter five hundred and sixty 

of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and 

seven. The registrars of voters and the clerk 

aheh ' of the city of Lynn, together with the clerks 

of the towns of Swampscott and Nahant, shall 

constitute a canvassing board for said district, 

and shall proceed in the manner prescribed in 

section one hundred and five oi said chapter 

five hundred and sixty, for like canvassing 

boards in the county of Suffolk. 



ACTS OF 1910. 
ACTS OF 1910 

Chapter 520. * 

An Act Relative to the Nomination by Direct 
Plurality Vote of Senators and Representa- 
tives in the General Court. 

Section 1. In every district for the election The question, shall 
of senator or representative in the general JaS^candidates "in" 
court wherein candidates are not now nomi- certain districts be 

nated by direct plurality vote, the question. ] )y cl , irect . vote - / to 
J * J . ' ^ be placed on ballots 

Shall nominations by politi- by petition. 

cal parties of candidates for YES 

the office of (senator or repre- NO 

sentative) in this district be 

by direct plurality vote?" shall, at the state 

election, be placed upon the official ballots in 

said district upon a petition signed by the 

registered voters therein in number equal to 

ten per cent, of the number of votes cast for 

governor in the said district at the preceding 

annual state election. The signers of the said ^ 

.... , „ ■,-,.,!•. ±1 • — mode of proced- 

petition shall add to their signatures their ure . 

residences with street and number, if any. 

The registrars of voters shall certify to the 

number, and the petition shall be filed with 

the secretary of the commonwealth at least 

sixty days before the election at which the 

question is to be submitted. 

Sec. 2. The vote upon the question afore- Return of the vote. 
said shall be returned and examined in the 
manner required by law for the return and 
examination of votes for state officers. If 
the vote is in the affirmative in any district, j) eterm - nat - f 

the nomination of candidates for senator or the result. 
representative and, if in a senatorial district, 
the election of a member of the state com- 
mittee by all political parties in said district, 
shall thereafter be by direct plurality vote. 

115 



ACTS OF 1010. 



Provisions of law 

applying. 



Canvassing Board. 



bow constituted. 



-time of meeting. 



Duties of Canvass- 
ing Board. 



Question of the 



Sec. 3. All provisions of law relative to 
caucuses of political parties and to nomina- 
tions and elections in caucuses by direct plu- 
rality vote, and to ballots, returns, and the 
duties of city and town clerks and regis- 
trars, so far as they are applicable and not 
inconsistent herewith, shall apply to caucuses 
and elections held in accordance with the 
provisions of this act. 

The city and town clerks in each district 
shall constitute a canvassing board to deter- 
mine the results of the said nominations or 
elections, and for this purpose they shall, in 
representative districts, meet at the places 
designated by law at which meetings are held 
to determine the results of election of rep- 
resentatives in the genral court, and in sen- 
atorial districts at places within said dis- 
tricts designated by the secretary of the 
commonwealth, at ten o'clock in the forenoon 
of the Monday preceding the day on which 
certificates of nomination for senators and 
representatives in the general court are re- 
quired by law to be filed with the secretary 
of the commonwealth. 

The said canvassing boards shall tabulate 
and determine the results of returns, and 
shall certify to the facts required by law. 
They shall furnish to the members of the, 
state committee elected in the senatorial 
districts certificates of their election, and shall 
send to the secretary of the Btate committee 
of each political party the names and resi- 
dences of the members of such party so 
elected. 

Sec. 4. At any time after one year from 



continuance of the the date of the election at which the pro- 
may^be "submitted in S for nominations by direct plurality vote, 
voters. 



ACTS OF 1910. 

the question, "Shall nomina- Mode of procedure, 

tions by political parties of YES 
candidates for the office of NO 
(senator or representative) by 
direct plurality vote be continued?" shall be 
placed upon the official ballot by a petition 
in the same form and filed in the same man- 
ner as the petition provided for in section 
one of this act. 

Returns of votes and determination of re- Return of votes and 

suits shall be made in the manner set forth determination of 

result 
in section two. If the vote in any district is 

in the negative, the nomination of candi- 
dates for senator and representative and" the 
election of a member of the state committee 
in that district by direct plurality vote shall 
be discontinued. 



\«'T OF CONGRESS. 

ACT OF CONGRESS "McCALL BILL." 

Public No. 274. IT. R. 2250. 
An Act Providing for Publicity of Contribu- 
tions Made for the Purpose of Influencing 
Elections at Which Representatives in Con- 
gress Are Elected. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and Souse of 
Representatives of the United Stat 
America in Congress assembled, That the 
Political committee term "political committee" under the provi- 
defined. sions of this Act shall include the national 

committees of all political parties and the 
national congressional campaign committees 
of all political parties and all Committees, as- 
sociations, or organizations which >hall in two 
or more States influence the result or attempt 
to influence the result of an election at which 
Representatives in Congress are to be elected. 
— shall have chair- Sec. 2. That every political committee as 
man and treasurer. Penned in this Act shall have a chairman and 
a treasurer. It shall be the duty of the treas- 
Duty of treasurer. urer ^ Q k ee p a detailed and exact account of 
all money or its equivalent received by or 
promised to such committee or any member 
thereof, or by or to any person acting under 
its authority or in its behalf, and the name 
of every person, firm, association, or commit- 
tee from whom received, and of all expendi- 
tures, disbursements, and promises of pay- 
ment or disbursement made by the committee 
or any member thereof, or by any person 
acting under its authority or in its behalf, 
and to whom paid, distributed, or disbursed. 
No officer or member of such committ 

be"fore be any°w- other P erson actill S umlor [ta authority or in 

ments are made. its behalf, shall receive any money of it- 
equivalent, or expend or promise to expend 
any money on behalf of such committee, un- 
118 



ACT OF CONGRESS— "McCALL BILL." 

til after a chairman and treasurer of sucli 
committee shall have been chosen. 

Sec. 3. That every payment or disburse- Vouchers required. 
ment made by a political committee exceed- 
ing ten dollars in amount be evidenced by a 
receipted bill stating the particulars of ex- 
pense, and every such record, voucher, receipt. 
or account shall be preserved for fifteen — to he preserved 
months after the election to which it relates. fifteen montns - 

Sec. 4. That whoever, acting under the 
authority or in behalf of such political com- 
mittee, whether as a member thereof or other- 
wise, receives any contribution, payment, 
loan, gift, advance, deposit, or promise of 
money or its equivalent shall, on demand, 
and in any event within five days after the ~ c ^ t accounted G f or 
receipt of such contribution, payment, loan, to treasurer. 
gift, advance, deposit, or promise, render to 
the treasurer of such political committee a 
detailed account of the same, together with 
the name and address from whom received, 
and said treasurer shall forthwith enter the 
same in a ledger or record to be kept by him 
for that purpose. 

Sec. 5. That the treasurer of every such Itemized statement 
political committee shall, within thirty days jg e ^ nled by treas " 
after the election at which Representatives 
in Congress were chosen in two or more 
States, file with the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives at Washington, District of 
Columbia, an itemized, detailed statement, 
sworn to by said treasurer and conforming to 
the requirements of the following section of 

this Act. The statement so filed with the statements so 

Clerk of the House of Representatives shall filed to he pre- 

SGTVGQ 

be preserved by him for fifteen months, and 

shall be a part of the public records of his 

■ *& j \. it v- a i v ■ j-- —open to mspec- 

office, and shall be open to public inspection, tion 



ACT OF CONGRESS- "McCALL BILL." 

Details of state- Sec 6. That the statements required by 

meuts required. the preceding Bec tion of this Act >hall state: 

First. The name and address of each per- 
son, firm, association, or committee Mho or 
which has contributed, promised, loaned, or 
advanced to such political committee, or any 
officer, member, or agent thereof, either in 
one or more items, money or its equivalent 
of the aggregate amount or value of one hun- 
dred dollars or more. 

Second. The total sum contributed, prom* 
ised, loaned, or advanced to such political 
committee, or to any officer, member, or 
agent thereof, in amounts less than one hun- 
dred dollars. 

Third. The total sum of all contributions, 
promises, loans, and advances received by such 
political committee or any officer, member, or 
agent thereof. 

Fourth. The name and address of each per- 
son, firm, association, or committee to whom 
such political committee, or any officer, mem- 
ber, or agent thereof, has disbursed, distrib- 
uted, contributed, loaned, advanced, or prom- 
ised any sum of money or its equivalent of 
the amount or value of ten dollars or mure, 
and the purpose thereof. 

Fifth. The total sum disbursed, distrib- 
uted, contributed, loaned, advanced, or prom- 
ised by such political committee, or any offi- 
cer, member, or agent thereof, where the 
amount or value of such disbursement, dis- 
tribution, loan, advance, or promise to any 
one person, firm, association, or committee 
in one or more items is less than ten dollars. 

Sixth. The total sum disbursed, distrib- 
uted, contributed, loaned, advanced, or prom- 
ised by such political committee or any offi- 
cer, member, or agent thereof. 



ACT OB 1 CONGRESS— "McCALL BILL." 
Sec. 7. That every person, firm, assoeia- Individuals, etc., 
tion, or committee, except political commit- committees expend- 
tees as hereinbefore defined, that shall ex- ing fifty dollars or 
t . p p ii more, required to 

pend or promise any sum of money of other ma k e statement. 

thing of value amounting to fifty dollars or 
more for the purpose of influencing or con- 
trolling, in two or more States, the result 
of an election at which Eepresentatives to 
the Congress of the United States are elected, 
unless he or it shall contribute the same to 
a political committee as hereinbefore defined, 
shall file the statements of the same under 
oath, as required by section six of this Act, 
in the office of the Clerk of the House of 
Eepresentatives, at Washington, District of 
Columbia, which statements shall be held by 
said Clerk in all respects as required by sec- 
tion five of this Act. 

Sec. 8. That any person may in connec- Personal expenses 
tion with such election incur and pay from may e pai 
his own private funds for the purpose of in- 
fluencing or controlling, in two or more States >•; 
the result of an election at which Eepresen- 
tatives to the Congress of the United States 

are elected all personal expenses for his trav- 

v j -c - «j i. t j- a i — person paying 

eling and for purposes incidental to travel- them not subject to 
ing, for stationery and postage, and /or tele- provisions of this 
graph and telephone service without being 
subject to the provisions of this Act. 

Sec. 9. That nothing contained in this Act M a ^fP*f d ™°*l y c 

° for legal expenses 

shall limit or affect the right of any person in contesting elec- 

to spend money for proper legal expenses in tion > etc - 

maintaining or contesting the results of any 

election. 

, Sec. 10. That every person willfully viola- Penalty for violat- 

ting any of the foregoing provisions of this ™f # P rovislons of 

Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more 

than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not 

more than one year, or both. 

Approved, June 25, 1910. 

121 



APPENDIX 



CONTENTS 

Election Districts of Massachusetts . . Ill 

Congressional . . . . . Ill 

Councillor ....... V 

Senatorial VIII 

Qualifications of Voters (Condensed Statement) 

XII 

Naturalization (A Digest of the Present Law) 

XIII 

Political Calendar, State Election . . XVI 
Political Calendar, City Elections . . XVIII 
Summary of the Legislation of igio, relat- 
ing to Caucuses, Elections, etc. . XIX 
Index .XXV 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 



CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. 

[As Established by Chapter 511, Acts of iqoi.J 



DISTRICT NUMBER OXE. 

All of Berkshire County; Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Char, 
lemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Gdl, Greenfield. Hawley, Heath, Leyden, 
Monroe, Rowe, Shelburne and Whately in Franklin County; Chester- 
field, Cummmgton, Goshen, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, 
Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington in Hamp- 
shire County ; Agawam, Blandford, Chester, Granville, Holyoke, Mont- 
gomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Westfield and West Springfield in 
Hampden County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER TWO. 

Erving. Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Shutes- 
bury, Sunderland, Warwick and Wendell in Franklin County ; Amherst, 
Belchertown, Easthampton, Enfield, Granby, Greenwich, Hadley, North- 
ampton, Pelham, Prescott, South Hadley and Ware in Hampshire 
County ; Bnmfield, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Holland, 
Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Springfield, Wales and Wilbraham 
in Hampden County; Athol, Barre, Brookfield, Dana, Hardwick, New 
Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, 
Warren and West Brookfield in Worcester County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER THREE. 

Auburn, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Mill- 
bury, Northbridge, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, 
Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, Webster, Westborough, West Boyl- 
ston and Worcester in Worcester County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR. 

Ashburnham, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, 
Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Northborough, 
Princeton, Southborough, Sterling, Templeton, Westminster and Winchendon 
in Worcester County; Acton, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Box- 
borough, Concord, Framingham, Groton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, 
Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Natick, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow, Sud- 
bury, Townsend, Waltham, Wayland, Westford and Weston in Middlesex 
County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. 

Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, 
North Reading, Reading, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough and Wilmington in 
Middlesex County ; Andover, Lawrence, Lynnfield, Methuen and North 
Andover in Essex County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER SIX. 

Amesbury, Beverly, Boxford, D mvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, 
Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Manchester, Marblehead, Merri- 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 



CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS —Concluded. 
& 

mac. Middled, Newbury, Newburyport. Peabody, K«*P° r '' *°™}*T* 
Salem, Salisbury, bwampscott, Topsfield, Wenham and West Newbury in 
Essex County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN. 
Lynn, Nabant and Saugus in Essex County ; Everett, Maiden, Mel- 
rose, Stoneham and Wakefield in .Middlesex County ;.Lhelsea and keveie 
in Suffolk County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER EIOIIT. 
Arlington. Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, Somerville, Winchester and 
Woburn in Middlesex County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER NINE. 
Wards i, 2. 3. 4, 5, 6. 7. 8, 9, Precincts 6 and 7 of Ward 12 of Boston, and 
Winthrop in Suffolk County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER TEN. 
Wards 13, 14, IS, 16, 17, 20 and 24 ot Boston in Suffolk Count* : 
Milton and Quincy in Norfolk County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER ELEVEN. 
Wards 10, 11, Precincts 1. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Ward 12, Wards 18, 19. 21, 22, 
23 and 25 of Boston in Suffolk County. 

DISTRICT NUMBER TWELVE. 
Avon, Bellingham. Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Dover, Fox 
borouch, Frankfin. Holbrook, Hyde Park, Medfield, Medway, MiUis, Need- 
ham, Norfolk, Norwood, Randolph. Sharon. StoughlonWalpole, We esey, 
Westwood, Weymouth and Wren.ham in Norfolk ( ouuty ; Holliston, 
Hopkinton, Newton, Sherborn and Watertown in Middlesex ouuU ; 
Sffione Hopedal'e, Mendon M ilford and Upton tnlj «^SSSS^Sl 
North Attleborough in Bristol County. Plamville, NorfOllC C-©. 

DISTRICT NUMBER THIRTEEN. 

Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Free- 
town New Bedford, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea and Westport 
in Bristol County; Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester in I'lynioutli 
County; County of Dukes County and Nantucket. 
DISTRICT NUMBER FOURTEEN. 

Abineton, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbuty, East Bridgewater, 
Hahfax Hanover, Hanson, H.ngham, Hull, Kingston. Lakeville, Marsh- 
fieS M ddleborough, Norwell Pembroke, Plymouth ^"^^dud. 
Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman in J 1> mouth 
County; Attleborough, Easton, Mansfield, Norton, kaynnr 



and Ta 



tonkin BriXrc^untyTT^as^m Norfolk County; Barnstable 
County. 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 

COUNCILLOR DISTRICTS 



As Established by Chapteb 497 of thb Acts of 19CHI. 



DISTRICT NUMBER ONE. 

The Cape, First and Second Plymouth, and the Second and 
Third Bristol Senatorial Districts. 

CAPE DISTRICT.— Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chat- 
ham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Or- 
leans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet and Yar- 
mouth, in the County of Barnstable ; and Chilmark, Oak 
Bluffs, Edgartown. Gay Head, Gosnold, Tisbury, and West 
Tisbury, In the County of Dukes County and Nantucket. 

PLYMOUTH DISTRICTS.— Abington, Brldgewater, 
Brockton, Carver, Cohasset (Norfolk County), Duxbury, East 
Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, 
Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfleld, Mattapoisett, Mld- 
dleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, 
Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridge- 
water and Whitman. 

BRISTOL DISTRICTS.— Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fair- 
haven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Somerset, Swan- 
zey and Westport. 



DISTRICT NUMBER TWO. 

The First Bristol, First and Second Norfolk, and Eighth 
and Ninth Suffolk Senatorial Districts. Legal voters. 

BRISTOL DISTRICT.— Attleborough, Berkley, DIghton. 
Easton, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham, 
Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Taunton. 

NORFOLK DISTRICTS.— Avon, Bellingham, Bralntree, 
Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Dover. Foxborough, Franklin, 
Holbrook, Hyde Park, Medfleld, Medway, Mlllis, Milton, 
Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy Randolph, 
Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Wey- 
mouth, and Wrentham. 

SUFFOLK DISTRICTS.— Wards Nos. 20, 21, 23, and 
24, Boston. 



DISTRICT NUMBER THREE. 

The Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Suffolk 
Districts. 
SUFFOLK DISTRICTS.— Wards Nos. 2, 3. 4 and 5, 6, 
T, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22 and Wards 
1, 2, 3 and 4, Cambridge. 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 



COUNCILLOR DISTRICTS— Continued. 



DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR. 

Thf First and Fifth Suffolk and the Second, Third and 
Fourth Middlesex Senatorial Districts. 

SUFFOLK DISTRICTS.— Chelsea, Revere and Wlnthrop 
and Wards 1, 10, 11, 25, Boston. 

MIDDLESEX DISTRICTS.— Wards 5, G, 7, 8, », 10, 11, 
Cambridge, Everett, Maiden, Melrose and Somerville. 



DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. 

The First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Essex Sena- 
torial Districts. 

ESSEX DISTRICTS.— Andover, Ainesbury, Beverly, 
Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, drove 
land, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Wards Nos. 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, Lynn, Manchester, Marblehead, Mer 
rimae, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newbury 
port, North Andover, Peabody, Rockport, Rowley, Salem 
Salisbury, Swampscott, Topsfiold, Wenham and West New 
bury in the County of Essex. 



DISTRICT NUMBER SIX. 

The First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Middlesex , 
Senatorial Districts. 

MIDDLESEX DISTRICTS.-Acton, Arlington, Ashby, 
Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, 
Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dun- 
stable, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hud 
son, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Ward 6, Lynn, 
Lynnfield. Marlborough, Maynard, Medford, Natick, New- 
ton, North Reading. Pepperell, Reading, Saugus, Sherborn, 
Shirley, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury. T>\vksbury. Townsend, 
TyngsborouRh, Wakefield, Waltham, Watortown, Wnyland, 
Westford, Weston, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn. 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 

COUNCILLOR DISTRICTS— Concluded 

DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN. 

The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Worcester and the 
Worcester and Hampden Senatorial Districts. 

WORCESTER DISTRICTS.— Ashburnham, Athol, Au 
burn, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Doug- 
las, Fitchburg, Gardner, Grafton, Harvard, Holden, Hope- 
dale, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, 
Millbury, Northborough, Northbridge, Oxford, Royalston, 
Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sterling, Sutton, Upton, "Ox- 
bridge, Webster, Westborough, West Boylston, Westmin- 
ster, Winchendon and Worcester. 

WORCESTER AND HAMPDEN DISTRICTS.— Barre, 
Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Dana, Dudley, Hampden, 
Hardwick, Holland, Hubbardston, Leicester, Ludlow, Mou- 
son, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Palmer, 
Paxton, Petersham, Philipston, Princeton, Rutland, South- 
bridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Templeton, Wales, Warren, 
West Brookfield and Wilbraham. 



EIGHTH COUNCILLOR DISTRICT. 

The Berkshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Hampden, Frank- 
lin and Hampshire and the First and Second Hamp- 
den Senatorial Districts. 

BERKSHIRE DISTRICT.— Adams, Cheshire, Clarks- 
burg, Dalton, Florida, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, 
New Ashford, North Adams, Peru, Pittsfield, Savoy, Wil- 
liamstown, Windsor. 

BERKSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE AND HAMDEN DIS- 
TRICT.— Agawam, Alford, Becket, Blanford, Chester, 
Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, East Longmead- 
ow, Egremont, Goshen, Great Barrington, Granville, Hat- 
field, Huntington, Lee, Lenox, Longmeadow, Middlefield, 
Monterey, Montgomery, Mount Washington, New Marl- 
borough, Northampton, Otis. Plainfield, Richmond, Russell, 
Sandisfield, Sheffield, Southampton, Southwick, Stock- 
bridge, Tolland, Tyringham, Washington, Westhampton, 
West Stockbridge, Williamsburg, and Worthlngton. 

FRANKLIN AND HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT.— Amherst, 
Ashfield, Belchertown, Bernardston, Buckland, Charle- 
mont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Enfield, Erving, Gill, 
Granby, Greenfield, Greenwich, Hadley, Hawley, Heath, 
Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, North- 
field, Orange, Pelham, Prescott, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutes- 
bury, South Hadley, Sunderland, Ware, Warwick, Wendell 
and Whately. 

HAMPDEN DISTRICTS.— Chlcopee, Holyoke, Spring 
field, Westfleld and West Springfield. 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 

SENATORIAL DISTRICTS 

As Established by Chapter 497 of the Acts ov 19CW. 

The Counties of Barnstable, Dukes Comity and 

Nantucket.— One District. 

CAPE DISTRICT.-Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chat- 

harn^ Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth Harwic^Mashpe, 
Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Welltteet an I 
Yarmouth, in the County of Barnstable; Chilmark. Oak 
Bluffs Edgartown, Gay Head, (iosnold, Tisbury and West 
Tisbury; in the County of Dukes County, and Nantucket. 

THE COUNTY OF BRISTOL.-Three Districts. 

FIRST BRISTOL DISTRICT.-Attleborough, Berkley. 
Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, 
Kavuham, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Taunton. 

SECOND BRISTOL DISTRICT.-Fall River, Somerset 
and Swansea. 

THIRD BRISTOL DISTRICT.— Acushnet, Dartmouth, 
Fairhaven, Freetown, New Bedford and Westport. 

THE COUNTY OP PLYMOUTH. 

(Including Cohasset, in Norfolk County)— Two Districts. 

FIRST PLYMOUTH DISTRICT.-Ablngton, Carver, 
Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover Hanson, 
Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfleld, Norwell, Pembroke 
Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland. Scituate, Whitman and 
Cohasset. 

SECOND PLYMOUTH DISTRICT.-Brorkton Bridge 
water Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, 
Rochester, Wareham and West Bridgewater. 

THE COUNTY OP NORFOLK. > 

(Excluding Cohasset)— Two Districts. 
FIRST NORFOLK DISTRICT.-Brnintree, Canton Hoi 
brook, Hyde Park, Milton, Quiney, Randolph and Wej 
mcuth. 

SECOND NORFOLK DIS 1RICT -Avon Belllughani, 
Erookline, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough Franklin Meafleld, 
Medway Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plalnvllle, 
Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood and 
W reutham. 



▼Ill 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 



SENATORIAL DISTRICTS— Continued. 



THE COUNTY OP SUFFOLK. 

(Together with the Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Cambridge, 
Middlesex county)— Nine Districts. 

FIRST SUFFOLK DISTRICT.— Chelsea, Revere and 
Winthrop, and Ward 1, Boston. 

SECOND SUFFOLK DISTRICT.— Wards 2, 3. 4 and 5, 
Boston and Wards 1, 2, 3, Cambridge. 

THIRD SUFFOLK DISTRICT.— Wards 6, 7, and 8, Bos- 
ton, and Ward 4, Cambridge. 

FOURTH SUFFFOLK DISTRICT.— Wards 9, 12 and 17. 
Boston. 

FD7TH SUFFOLK DISTRICT. -Wards, 10, 11, and 2",. 
Bos,t«n. 

SIXTH SUFFFOLK DISTRICT— Wards 13, 14, 15 and 
16, Boston. 

SEVENTH SUFFOLK DISTRICT.— Wards, 18, 19 and 22. 
Boston. 

EIGHTH* SUFFOLK DISTRICT.— Wards 20 and 21. 
Boston. 

NINTH SUFFOLK DISTRICT.— Wards 23 and 24, 
Boston. 

THE COUNTY OF ESSEX. 

(Exclusive of Ward 6 in Lynn and Lynnfield and Saugus)— 
Five Districts. 

FIRST ESSEX DISTRICT.— Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 in 
Lynn, Nahant and Swampscott. 

SECOND ESSEX DISTRICT. — Beverly, Danvers, 
Marblehead and Sclem. 

THIRD ESSEX DISTRICT.— Essex, Gloucester, Hamil- 
ton, Ipswich, Manchester, Newburyport, Newbury, Rock- 
port, Rowley, Salisbury, Topsfleld, Wenham and West 
Newbury. 

FOURTH ESSEX DISTRICT.— Amesbury, Boxford, 
Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Merrimac, Middleton 
and Pea body. 

FIFTH ESSEX DISTRICT.— Andover, Lawrence, North 
Andover and Methuen. 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 



SENATORIAL DISTRICTS— Continued. 



THE COUNTY OP MIDIH.liSSKX. 

(Together with the Ward numbered six in Lynn and S<ui- 

gus and Lynntield, in Essex County, and exclusive of 

the Wards numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, Cambridge in 

Middlesex County)— Eight Districts. 

FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.— Ashland, Framing 
ham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Sherborn, 
Watertown and Weston. 

SECOND MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.-Wards 5, fi, 7, S, 
9, 10 and 11, in Cambridge. 

THIRD MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.-The city of Somer- 
ville. 

FOURTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.-The cities of 
E\erett, Maiden and Melrose. 

FIFTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.— Belmont, Concord, 
Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, 
Sudbury. Waltham and Wayland. 

SIXTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.— Arlington, Medford, 
Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester and Woburn. 

SEVENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.— Acton, Ayer, Red- 
ford, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Little- 
ton, Wards 5, 9, in Lowell, North Reading, Reading, TewkS- 
bury, Westford and Wilmington In Middlesex County, ami 
Ward 6 in Lynn, Lynnfield and Saugus in Essex County 

EIGHTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.— Ashby, Chelmfcrl 
Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Wards 1, 2, 8, 4. 
7 and 8 in Lowell, Shirley, Townsend and lyngsboromrh. 

THE COUNTY OF "WORCESTER. 

THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER. 
(And Brimfield Hampden, Holland, Ludlow, Monsor. 
Palmer, Wales and Wilbiaham in Hampden County)— 
Five Districts. 

FIRST WORCESTER DISTRICT.— Wards 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 
9 and 10 in Worcester. 

SECOND WORCESTER DISTRICT.— Berlin, Boll on, 
Boylston, Clinton, Harvard, Holden, Lancaster, Sterling 
and West Bolvston, Wards 1, 2 and 3 in Worcester. 

THIRD WORCESTER DISTRICT.— Ashburnhnm, Athol 
Fitchburg. Gardner, Leominster, Lunenburg, Royalston. 
Westminster and Winchendon. 

FOURTH WORCESTER DISTRICT.- Auburn, BlftCk- 
stone, Douglas. Grafton. Hopedale, Mendon, Milford. Mill- 
bury, Northborough, Northbridge, Oxford. Shrewsbury, 
Southborouffh, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster and 
Westborough. 



ELECTION DISTRICTS. 

SENATORIAL DISTRICTS— Concluded. 



The County of Worcester. — Continued. 

WORCESTER AND HAMPDEN DISTRICT.— Barre, 
Brookfield, Charlton, Dana, Dudley, Hardwick, Hubbard- 
ston, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, 
Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, South- 
bridge, Spencer, Stitrbridge, Templeton, Warren and West 
Brookfield in Worcester County, and Brimfield, Hampden, 
Holland, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Wales and Wilbraham 
In Hampden County. 



THE COUNTIES OF BERKSHIRE, FRANKLIN, 
HAMPDEN AND HAMPSHIRE. 

(Exclusive of the towns of Brimfield, Hampden, Holland, 

Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Wales and Wilbraham in 

Hampden County)— Five Districts. 

BERKSHIRE DISTRICT.— Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, 
Dalton, Florida, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, New 
Ashford, North Adams, Pittsfield, Peru, Savoy, Williams- 
town and Windsor in Berkshire County. 

BERKSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE AND HAMPDEN DIS- 
TRICT.— Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, 
Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, 
Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyring- 
ham, Washington, and West Stockbridge, in the County 
of Berkshire; Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, 
Goshen, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Northampton. 
Plainfield, Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and 
Worthington, in the County of Hampshire; and Agawam, 
Blandford. Chester, East Longmeadow, Granville, Long- 
meadow, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick and Tolland 
in Hampden County. 

FRANKLIN AND HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT.— Ashfield. 
Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, 
Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, 
Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, North - 
field, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, 
Warwick, Wendell and Whately, in the County qf Frank- 
lin; and Amherst, Belchertown, Enfield, Granby, Green- 
wich, Hadley, Pelham, Prescott, South Hadley and Ware, 
in the County of Hampshire. 

HAMPDEN DISTRICTS. 

FIRST HAMPDEN DISTRICT. -The City of Springfield. 
SECOND HAMPDEN DISTRICT.-Chicopee, Holyoke, 
Westfleld and West Springfield. 



QUA] [FICATION OF TOT! 
A MAN TO VOTE AT AN ELECTION IN MASSACHUSETTS: 
Must be a citizen of the United Statea by birth or natural 
lZ&tl °(Ko person can be naturalized within thirty daya preceding 

ag XlbtalTeLt twenty-one years old, althought under 

age can be registered if be will be of .age at the time ol the 
next election. . , ..... 

Must, unless be had the right to vote ... thia state on Ma) 
1 1857 or is physically disabled from doing so, 1- able to 
^ite his name and read in English the constitution oi : the : atate 
Must have resided in the state one year, and ... the aty oi 
town where be votes six montha next preceding such election, 
but one who changes bis residence -itl.i,. the atate > retains for 
six montha the right to vote for national or state officera in tl„ 
olace from which be removes. 

Must not be under guardianship, nor a pauper, (unless an 
honorably discharged veteran soldier or sailor). 

Must have been assessed for a poll tax, or in Boston listed 
on the preceding first of April, or, if he became a resident of 
a city or town after the first of April, must obtain a cerhficate 
that he has been a resident thereof for six months preceding 
the election. , 

[A person otherwise qualified who is not bo aaaesaed or 
Listed on \j.ril 1, may be assessed or listed, or may obtain a 
certificate «»f six months' residence, as the case may be, by prov- 
ing bis right thereto before the assessors, o,- in Boston before , 
member of the listing board, the superintendent, a deputy an- 
perintendent or an inapector of police noi later than Septet 

Musi have bis name upon the list of regiatered voters. 

The payment of any poll or other tax is not a prerequisite 
for registration or voting in Massachusetts. ,..,,. 

A person qualified to vote in a city or town divided into 
wards <>r voting precincta, shall be registered and be entitled to 
vote in the ward or voting precinct in which he reaided on the 
firsl day of April preceding the election, or. if he became an .,,- 
habit an1 of such city or town after such Brai -lay oi April, in 
the ward or voting precincl in which he firal became a resident. 
xii 



NATURALIZATION. 



NATURALIZATION. 

Naturalization papers can be taken out in the United 
States Circuit or District Court (in Post Office Building, 
Boston), or in the Supreme Judicial or Superior Court of 
the county in which the applicant resides. 

Aliens honorably discharged from the army, upon making 
proof of one year's residence in this country, aliens showing 
honorable discharge and five consecutive years' service in the 
United States Navy or one enlistment in the United States 
Marine Corps, and the widow and minor children of an alien 
who has declared his intention to become a citizen but dies 
before he is actually naturalized, may become citizens with- 
out previous declaration of intention. 

An alien seaman may be admitted a citizen of the United 
States after having served on board a merchant vessel of 
the United States for three years subsequent to the date of 
his declaration of intention. He must produce his certificate 
of discharge and good conduct during that time. 

Alien enemies, members of the Mong61ian race, e. g., Chi- 
nese, Japanese and Burmese, anarchists, poligamists, and, 
with certain exceptions, persons who cannot speak the Eng- 
lish language and write their own names, cannot be natural 
ized. 

Children under 21 years of age at the time of the natu 
ralization of their parents, if dwelling in the United States, 
and such children born outside the United States, upon be- 
ginning to reside permanently here, and children born after 
the naturalization of their parents, are deemed citizens of 
the United States. 

An alien woman becomes naturalized by marriage with a 
citizen or by the naturalization of her husband ; and her 
naturalization in either of these ways naturalizes her minor 
children by a former alien husband. 

For an Alien to become a Naturalized Citizen : 

First. He must make a declaration of intention before 
the clerk (or his deputy) of a court authorized to naturalize 
aliens, two years at least prior to his admission, and after 
he has reached the age of eighteen years.* Such declaration 
must set forth his name, age, occupation, personal descrip- 
tion, place of birth, last foreign residence and allegiance, 
date of his arrival, name of vessel in which he came here, 
and his present residence. (One who filed his declaration of 
intention before the new naturalization law went into effect, 
September 27, 19013, is not required to file a new declara- 
tion). 

Second. Not less than two nor more than seven years 
after making his declaration of intention he must file in 
court his petition for naturalization. The petition must be 
signed by the applicant in his own handwriting, (unless he 

* Note : Aliens coming to this country under the age of 
eighteen vears are no longer, under the new law, exempt 
from making this declaration of intention ; they must now 
take out both sets of papers. 



NATURALIZATION. 



filed his declaration before the passage of the new naturaliz- 
ation law of 1906), and in it he must state his full name, 
residence (by street and number, if possible), occupation, 
date and place of birth, place from which he emigrated, date 
and place of arrival in this country, name of vessel on which 
he arrived, time when and place and court where he de- 
clared his intention ; if married the name of his wife, coun- 
try of her nativity, her present residence, and the name, 
date, birthplace and residence of each child living. 

The petition must also set forth that he is not opposed 
to organized government, etc., that he is not a poligamist by 
practice or belief, that it is his intention to become a citi- 
zen of the United States, to reside permanently therein, and 
to renounce all other allegiance ; also whether or not he can 
speak the English language, (unless he filed his declaration 
before the passage of the new naturalization law of 1906), 
and whether or not he has previously been denied adm: 
as a citizen, and if so on what grounds and in what court, 
and that the cause has since been removed. 

The petition must "be verified by the affidavits of at least 
two credible witnesses, citizens of the United States, stating 
that they have personally known the applicant to be a resi- 
dent of the United States for at least five vears continu- 
ously, and of the state in which the application is made for 
at least one year, immediately preceding the filing of the 
petition, and that he is of good moral character and in every 
way qualified to be admitted as a citizen. 

With the petition he must also file his declaration of In- 
tention, and, if he arrived in this countrv after June 29. 
1906, a certificate from the Department of Commerce and 
Labor, stating the date, place, and manner of his arrival 
here. 

Third. He must satisfy the court, bv his own oath and 
the testimony (which may be by deposition as to such por- 
tion of the five years' residence as was outside of the State) 
of at least two witnesses, citizens of the United States, of 
his five years' continuous residence in the United States and 
one year's residence in the State, and of his good moral 
character and attachment to the principles of the United 
States Constitution. 

Fourth. He must take oath in open court to support the 
Constitution and laws of the United States, and renounce all 
foreign allegiance, and all titles and orders ornobilitv. 



* These two witnesses must be those by whom the applicant 
preves his residence of one year or more within the State; if he 
proves his residence elsewhere In the United States for the re- 
mainder of the five years by the testimony of other wltl 
such other witnesses are not required to make affidavits to i!i«- 
petition. 

Such depositions may lie t;iken at any time before the hear- 
ing on the petition on notice to the Bureau of Immigration and 
Naturalization at Washington, and to the Assistant United 
States Attorney in sharge of naturalization in the district where 
the witness resides, from whom printed forms for depositions 
may be obtained on application. 

xiv 



NATURALIZATION. 

Petitions for naturalization may be filed at any time, but 
final action can be bad only in open court on stated days 
fixed by tbe court. Sucb final action can in no case be had 
until at least ninety days have elapsed after filing the 
petition, nor within thirty days preceding a general election 
in the State. 

If an alien so desires and the court approves he may have 
his name changed at the time and as a part of bis natural- 
ization. 

Persons not citizens who owe permanent allegiance to the 
United States, and who become residents of the State, in 
qualifying for naturalization after two years from the dates 
of their declarations of intention may, for the purpose of 
satisfying the five years' residence clause, show their resi- 
dence' anywhere within the jurisdiction of the United States 
owing sucb permanent allegiance. 



Fees. 

For receiving and filing a declaration of intention and 

issuing' a duplicate thereof $1.00 

For making, filing and docketing the petition of an 
alien for admission as a citizen of the United 
States and for the final hearing thereon $2.00 

For entering the final order and the issuance of the 

certificate of citizenship $2.00 

If the petitioner desires to compel the attendance of any 
witnesses he must, in addition to the above fees, pay to the 
clerk of the court such sums as may be necessary to cover 
the expenses of subpoenaing them and paying their legal fees. 

Political committees and persons required to file state- 
ments of political expenses are prohibited in Massachusetts 
from paying money to or in behalf of any person for nat- 
uralization fees or for services in obtaining naturalization. 

Blank forms to be filled in with the facts necessary to 
make out the declaration of intention or the petition for 
naturalization are furnished on application to the clerks of 
courts. The applicant for a declaration of intention having 
properly filled in such a form presents it to the clerk of the 
court, who draws up the declaration therefrom in triplicate 
and has the applicant sign and swear to it. and one copy is 
given to the applicant. When he applies for his final papers, 
he fills in a similar form, from which the clerk of the court 
prepares the petition for naturalization ; on this occasion 
the applicant takes with him his copy of his declaration, and 
his two witnesses, who with him put their names upon and 
swear to the petition. 

Mondays are the days fixed for hearings in the United 
States Courts. 



POLITICAL CALENDAR 

RELATING TO THE 

STATE ELECTION 



1910. 



NATURALIZATION. 

July '2.— Last day (or filing petitions on which hearing 
in the United Stales Circuit ;iud District Courts before the general State 
election in November. 

July 9. — Last possible day for filing petitions <>n which hearings <;in be 
had in any court before the general State election in November. 

Oct. 3. — Last day for hcariugs in the United States Circuit and Dl* 
trict Courts before the general State election in November. 

Oct. S.— Last day that can be fixed by any court for hearings before tie- 
general State election in November. 

REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 

In Boston Central Oilier. 

July 1 to Sent. 3, inclusive, 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. Saturdays 9 A Vi. 
to U M. 

Sept. 1.— Last day for listing persons for registration. 

Sept. G to Sept. iiO.— Inclusive, 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. and fl P. M. GO 
in P. M. Saturdays. f) A. M. to 12 M. and 6 P. M. to 1" P. M. 

Sept. 20 — Registration for the State Primaries ceases at Itl I". M 

Sept. '2i to Oct. 1 inclusive. 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. V Saturday, Sept 
24, li to 12. Saturday. Oct. 1. 9 to 1. 

Oct. 3 to Oct. 19 inclusive, 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. and 6 P. M. to 10 P. M 
Saturday* 9 A. M. to 1 P. M. and f> P. M. to 10 P. M. 

Oct. If).— 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. when rejr'stratlon for the State electioo 
"shall cease." 

In Boston Wnnl Registration. , 

Oct. 7 to Oct. 19 inclusive. 6 P. M. to 10 P. M. 
No registration Sundays or holidays. 
In Other Cities) anil Towim, 

"Registrars shall hold such sessions At the town by by-law or the . . . 
city by ordinance shall prescribe." 

Oet. 19. — "In every city registrar shall hold a continuous session from 
12 noon till 10 o'clock . . . when registration shall cease." 

Oet. 29.— Tn every town a like continuous session shall be held. 

ELECTION OFFICERS. 

Ausr. 15.— Last day for appointing election officers In towns divided Into 
voting precincts. 
Aug?. 31.— Last day for filing nomination of election officers In every city. 

xvl 



POLITICAL CALENDAR, STATE ELECTION. 

CAUCUSES. 

All caucuses for the choice of delegates to conventions, and the 
nomination of candidates to be voted for at the state election, must 
he held as follows : 

Sept. 27.— All caucuses of political parties in Boston and cities 
and towns which have adopted the provisions of the joint caucus act, 
(must be held at the same time and place) ; all caucuses of political 
parties in Suffolk County and all caucuses of the Democratic party in 
cities and towns, which have not adopted the provisions of the joint 
caucus act. 

Sept. 28.— All caucuses of the Republican party in cities and 
towns, which hare not adopted the provisions of the joint caucus act. 

CONVENTIONS. 

Oct. 2.— Earliest day for calling and holding Republican and Demo- 
cratic conventions except Representative conventions, of delegates 
chosen September 27. 

Oct. 5.— Earliest day for calling and holding Republican and Demo- 
cratic Representative conventions of delegates chosen September 27. 

Oct. 3.— Earliest day for calling and holding Republican conven- 
tions, except Representative conventions, of delegates chosen Sep- 
tember 28. 

Oct. 6.— Earliest day for calling and holding Republican Repre- 
sentative conventions of delegates chosen September 28. 

Oct. 6.— Republican State Convention at Tremont Temple at 
10.30 A. M. 

Oct. IS.— Latest date for calling or holding conventions for the nomina- 
tion of candidates for offices to be filled at a State Election other than 
those to be filled by all the voters of the Commonwealth. Must be called 
and held before 5 P. M. 



Certificates of Nora i nation and Nomination Papers 
Oct. lO.- Certificates of Nomination for offices to be filled by 
all of the voters of the Commonwealth must be filed. 

Oct. 17 Nomination Papers for the same must be filed. 

Oct. 20.— Certificates of Nomination for all other offices to be 
filled at a State election must be filed. 

Oct. 21. — Nomination Papers for the same must be filed. 
All of these papers must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth 
before 5 P. M. on the dates specified.* 

SEE NEXT PAGE FOR MISCELLANEOUS. 



•Objections to or withdrawals from nominations must be made within the 
seventy-two week-day hours succeeding 5 o'clock of the last day fixed for the 
filing of Domination papers for such offices. 



POLITICAL CALENDAR, STATE ELECTION. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Sept. S.-Last day for posting copies of the voting lists In every place 
except Boston. 

Oct. 14.-Last day for posting copies of voting lists in Boston 

Oct. 17- Canvassing boards of Suffolk Senatorial Districts meet in Bos- 
ton at office of election commissioners at 10 A. M. 

Oct. S.-Last day for designation of polling places In cities and towns 
divided into voting precincts. 

Oct. 17.-Last day for petitioning for appointment of supervl.o.s of 

el Oot. U 24.-Last day In cities for filing complaints against incorrect and 
Illegal registration. 

Npv. 3.- Last day in towns for filing such complaint!. 
Nov. S, STATE ELECTION. (Tuesday next after the first Monday 
In November.) 

POLITICAL CALENDAR, CITY ELECTION. 
City election in following cities December 6. 

In Brockton. Fall River. ™*™™*g'™ 0t ^ W9 uSE2& 

, ,,„ H«ivnk«» Lawrence, Marlborough, >tw ■»« 
Sortnam^tot Vutstfela. ftaiacy, Springfield, Taunt- and 

Waltliam. .. ~ ..,,,_ rtnv 

Nov. IG.-Last day before City election for registration^ On tti. £* 
Registrars must bold a continuous session from 12 M. to 10 . »-. 
Tl^ »^5rtnSS- of nomination must be filed witb City Clerk before 
5 ^ 23- Nomination papers must be filed witb the City Clerk before 
5 P. M. 

City election in following cities December 18. 

In Beverly, Chicopee, Everett, Lowell, Lynn. Maiden, 
Medford, Melrose. Newburyport, Newton, Salem, Somer- 
ville, Wobnrn and Worcester. 

Nov. 23.— Last day before City election for registration. On this da,/ 
Registrars must bold a continuous session from 12 M. to 10 P. M.. when 
registration must cease. t „ _ ... _ _.. _ , 

Uov. 28.— Certificates of nomination must be filed with the City Clerk 

J Nov. 30. Nomination papers must be filed with the City Clerk before 

5 P. M.*|| 



City election In North Adams December 20. 
City election in Boston January l<». L911. 
City election in Cambridge March 14, 1911. 



♦Objection s to or withdrawals from nominations must be made within the 
fort S week-day hour, succeeding 5 o'clock In the afternoon of the last 
day fixed for the filing of nomination paper* for such offices. 



SUMMARY 

OF THE 

LEGISLATION OF 1910 

KELATING TO 

CAUCUSES AND ELECTIONS 
CHAPTER 44. 
An Act relative to primaries and elections. 

Thi act amends section four of chapter five hundred and 
sixty of the acts of nineteen hundred and seven by adding 
thereto the following paragraph: — "Whenever the day of the 
iveek designed for a primary or election falls on a holiday, said 
primary or election shall he held on the day succeeding said 
holiday." 
See page 10. 

CHAPTER 55. 

An Act to prohibit the publication of unsigned political adver- 
tisement, circulars or posters in certain cases. 

This act amends section four hundred and thirty of chapter 
five hundred and sixty of the acts of nineteen hundred and 
seven by adding to the provisions for a penalty for writing, 
printing, posting, distributing, etc., anonymous circulars, etc., 
the words: — Or which is designed or tends to aid, injure, or 
defeat a constitutional amendment or any other question sub- 
mitted to the voters." 

See page 100 also page 107 for similar amendments to sec- 
tions one and two of chapter five hundred and eighty-one of the 
acts of nineteen hundred and seven. 

CHAPTER 110. 

An Act relative to the filing of certificates* of nomination and 
nomination papers for elections in towns. 

This act was passed to validate certain acts in certain towns 
_as set forth in the act which reads: 

Section 1. All certificates of nomination for town offices filed 
on or before the second Saturday, and nomination papers filed 
on or before the Monday, preceding the election shall, for the 
year nineteen hundred and ten, be valid. ( 

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. {Ap- 
proved February 23, 1910. 



CHAPTER 147. 

An Act relative to the posting of voting lists. 

This act amends section sixty-two of chapter live hundred 

and sixty of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and seven by 

striking out the word "thirty.'* in the third line, and inserting 

in place thereof the word: — sixty. 

CHAPTER 182. 
An Act relative to the filling of vacancies in nomination papers. 

This act amends section one hundred and twenty-six of chap- 
ter five hundred and sixty of the acts of the year nineteen hun- 
dred and seven by adding at the end thereof the words: — if at 
any time subsequent to the expiration of the time of fitting va- 
cancies it shall happen that a vacancy has been created by 
death, the chairman of the city or tovm committee rimy file with 
the city or town clerk or, in Boston, with the election commis- 
sioner, a new name to fill such vacancy; and if tlie time is suf- 
ficient therefor, the new name shall l>< printed upon the official 
ballot. 

See page 53. 

CHAPTER 200. 

An Act relative to the placing of statements on nomination 

papers. 

This act amends section one hundred and twenty-one of chap* 
ter five hundred and sixty of the acts of the year nineteen hun- 
dred and seven by striking out the words "such be the fact.*' in 
the sixth line of the first paragraph, and inserting in place 
thereof the words: — he is at tin time an incumbent of th< office 
for which lie seeks r< nomination for another term, hut not other* 
wise 

See page 50. 

CHAPTER 520. 

An Act relative to the nomination by direct plurality vote of 

Senators and Representatives in tne General Court. 

The so-called "Walker-Cushing Act." For act in full see page 

115. 7 PUBLIC— No. 274 11. R. 2250. 

An Act providing for publicity of contributions made for the 

purpose of influencing elections at which Representatives 

in Congress are elected. 
The so-called "McCall bill" applying only to candidates for 
Representatives to Congress. For Acl in full Bee page 118. 



INDEX. 



Acceptance of a nomination hy candidates PAGB 

must be written on his nomination paper 49, 50, 75, 8U 

Acts of 1907 106 

Acts of 1908 109 

Acts of 1909 114 

Acts of 1910 115 

Aldermen 

to provide polling places 35, 42, 48 

to notify political committees of places provided 42, 48 

upon request to arrange polling places for voting in two 

or more lines 48 

duties under the joint caucus act 64 

to designate hours when polls at primaries shall be open. 66 

Anonymons Circnlars or Posters 

penalty for printing circulars, etc 100 

Arrangement of Names on Ballots (see ballots.) 

Arrests 

criminal prosecutions in case of violation of law relative 

to 10 

for violating caucus laws, etc., to be made by officers with- 
out warrant 105 

Assessment of Poll Taxes and Lists of persons assessed 

to be made anually by assessors 13 

errors in lists to be corrected 14 

of male persons moving into a city or town after April 1 15 

records to be kept * . . 15 

subject to certain provisions of law 16 

Assessors 

term defined 6 

duties relative to assessment 13 

to hold sessions for such purpose 10 

to post laws prescribing penalties for illegal registration, 

etc 1C 

to correct errors, etc., in lists 14 

penalties upon 92 

Ballot, 

official term defined 7 

to be taken in all caucuses 43, 56, 66 

Ballots 

how returned 38 

for councillor 38 

in certain senatorial districts 38, 106, 109, 114 

in districts nominating by a direct vote 38, 115 

for nomination of congressmen in certain districts . . 38, 115 
for nominations by direct vote in districts of more than 
one ward or town to be made according to section 137. . 38 
for state committee in senatorial districts . . 38, 106, 109, 114 
In cancnses at which official are not nsed 

secretary of caucus to transmit to city or town clerk . . 43 
to be kept by clerks 10 days and upon request 3 months. . 43 



INDEX. 

Ballots— Continued. PA01 

to be preserved in case of contest till same is determined. 43 

to be produced wben required by any court or convention. 43 

recount of 43 

In caucuses at wliien official are used 

to be provided by the city or town 54 

to be prepared by *city or town clerk A 

no other to be received or counted 54 

in Boston not to be printed in office owned by the city.. 54 

number to be furnished equal to one for each voter .... 54 

number to be printed by whom determined . 54 

six specimens to be posted in each polling place 54 

to have an official heading, with party name, etc 64 

to have names for elective officers arranged alphabetically M 

to have other names grouped in order filed 54 

except for delegates, to have place of residence printed 

against names 54 

against certain names brief statements, to be printed on.. 54 

to contain only names presented on nomination papers . . 55 

to have blank spaces for inserting other names 53 

to state number of persons to be voted for 55 

to indicate by a star (*) a candidate for re-election .... 55 
in form and arrangement to be in general same as official 

state ballot 66 

how to marked by voter 55 

a cross (X) against a name on, to constitute a vote .... 
not to be counted if more candidates are voted for than 

are to be elected 55 

with voting lists, blanks, etc., to be delivered at polling 

places 55 

to be delivered to certain officers 56 

no* to be counted till polls are closed, and in full view .... 67 

when counted result to be announced 57 

to be sealed up with check list, etc., and endorsed .... 58 
to be transmitted to city clerk to be kept 10 days and on 

request 3 months 58 

in Boston, etc., to be recounted on request of ten voters. . 

to be produced when required by any court or convention 58 
For nse in Joint Caucuses 

to be provided in accordance with the provisions of sec- 
tions 130 to 133, inclusive G4 

to be on paper of a different color for each party 64 

number to be printed, by whom determined t',4 

not to exceed one of each party for each voter G4 

to be counted as at election 67 

petition for recount, how made and when filed OS 

Ballot law commission 

Boston — election commissioners constitute. Powers, du- 
ties, etc 20, 53 

State — appointment, powers, duties, etc 80 

Calendars 

for the current year 2 

political for state and city elections Appendix xvl 

Calling: of Caucuses 13, 18, 23, 24, 25, 77, 82, 86 

(see caucuses.) 

xxii 



Candidate* Pagh 

nomination of, 

by caucus 34, 42, 46, 62, 69 

by convention 69, 70 

to be voted for at a state election to be nominated at 

caucuses held throughout the state one one designated 

day 34 

for elective office to receive notice of nomination 38 

for senators and state committee in the Suffolk Sena- 
torial Districts 69 

in first Hampden and third Middlesex Districts . . 106 

in the first Worcester Senatorial Distrist 109 

'in the first Essex Senatorial District 114 

by direct vote 69, 115 

for congressmen in ninth, tenth and eleventh districts . 69 

for councillor in Suffolk Senatorial Districts 69 

provisions of corrupt practices relating to nominations 

and elections 83 

for candidates for a state office in a district of more than 

one ward and wholly within any one city, how filed ... 39 
for candidates for a state office in a district not wholly 

within one city 39 

earliest and latest day for calling convention for 70 

no caucus entitled to nominate, except as provided 34 

to be nominated by plurality vote in a caucus 37 

may be nominated by roll call in a convention 70 

to be chosen by ballot 37, 43 

may be made by a party when for five years it has polled 

for governor a certain number of votes 69 

may be made by nomination papers 72 

if made otherwise than by a political party 74 

in certain cases cannot use name of another party ... 75 

withdrawals of name 78 

in case of death, vacancy, ineligibility, etc 79 

may ask for recount of ballots 43 

to be notified of time and place of recount 44 

or agent may be present at recounts 44 

relative to nomination papers for nomination .... 109 

Under the so-called "Boston Act" 

to be voted for at a city or town election to be chosen at 

caucuses held same day in each city and town 47 

nominations of, to be voted for at a caucus must be made 

by nomination papers 49 

to file written acceptance with papers 50 

residence of, to be placed on papers 50 

preferences of, and information regarding, may be placed 

on papers .. 50 

names of, on papers not to exceed number of persons to 

be elected 50 

how nominated if papers are not filed or vacancy occurs. 51, 52 

may withdraw from nomination papers 52 

information, etc., regarding, on nomination papers to be 

printed on ballots 54 

names of, how arranged on ballots 54, 55 

for re-election indicated on ballot by star (*) '. . . 55 



Candidates— Continued. Page 

for an elective office or nomination to such, or ward or 

town committee cannot serve as caucus officers 59 

Canvassing Board 

in certain cases ineligible for caucus officers 59 

for representatives and certain officers to be voted for 

in two or more wards by direct plurality vote 69 

for members of state committee in certain senatorial dis- 
tricts 38, 106, 100, 111 

for ninth, tenth, and eleventh congressional districts . . 69 
Canvass of returns of votes 

in districts comprising more than one ward or town .... 38 

for caucuses at which are made direct nominations .... 69 

of caucuses nominating congressmen in certain districts 09 

of caucuses at which direct nominations are made .... C»r>. 115 
candidates for certain offices to be voted for in two or 

more wards to be nominated by direct plurality vote . . 69 

of joint caucuses or primaries 68 

Caucus 

term defined 6 

may make one nomination for each office, etc 69 

♦registrars to hold at least one session for registration 

preceding the first, preceding state election 17 

no person to take part in a, unless name is on the voting 

list 37 

Caucuses 

terms relating to, defined 6 

joint or primary • • • 61 

In Suffolk County 34 

Calling of 34, 35, 36, 42, 46, 47, 48, 62 

conduct of 42, 56, 66 

notices of (see notices). 

criminal prosecutions for all offenses, etc., in 10 

♦registrars to furnish voting lists for use in 25 

for choice of ward committees upon the re-division of a 

city into wards 31 

to be called by city committee existing 31 

when held in precincts .".."> 

powers and duties relating to, in Boston, invested in the 

election commissioners 10 

rules and regulations relative to, may be made 32 

independent voter not to be prevented from participat- 
ing in 32 

not entitled to nominate candidates or H. ■ delegates. 

except as provided .S4 

for special elections to be called by political committees.. 35 

to be valid must be called by a printed or written notice. 35 

notices of, to apply only to members of parly calling them 36 

presiding officer to open, at hour appointed therefor .... 36 

voting list to be used in :',' 

no person to take part in, whose name is not on voting 

list 37 

*. In Boston, election commissioners. 



INDEX. 

Caucuses— Continued. PAGE 

candidates receiving highest number of votes deemed 

elected or nominated 37 

held preparatory to national conventions 40 

may, for state districts, etc., make one nomination for 

each office 69 

candidates nominated, entitled to have names on official 

ballot 69 

no convention to be held earlier than four days after. . 70 

penalties on officers and voters at 92-100 

prosecution for violation of any provision relating to, 

not to be placed on file, etc 105 

(Relating to state elections.) 

to be held throughout the state on one day 34 

to be held at call of state committee 34 

delegates to be elected and candidates nominated at one 

caucus 34 

copy of call to be sent to committees 35 

no two political parties to hold, on same day 35 

precedence given to party first filing call of 35 

no person having voted in, of one party shall be entitled 

to act in that of another party within twelve months. . 36 

exception in case of a municipal party .' 

no voter to be prevented from taking part in, if he will 

take prescribed oath 36 

presiding officer of, to administer oath ^ 36 

clerk or secretary of, to make record, ets., of oath .... 37 

in case of a tie vote 38 

presiding officer and secretary of, to send certificate of 

election 38 

Under provisions applying: to all at which Official 
Ballots are not used 

notice where, day and hour to be held to be issued . . 42 

notice of, to be posted in public places and published . . 42 

hour for calling to order not to be later than 8 P. M. . . 42 

to be called to order by person designated in the call .... 42 

in case of absence of person designated 42 

temporary chairman to preside till permanent one is 

chosen rf . . . 42 

chairman, secretary, etc., to be first chosen 42 

ballot to be taken for delegates, candidates, etc 42 

polls to be kept open for thirty minutes 43 

ballot to be taken for delegates, candidates, etc 43 

clerk of, shall keep them ten days, or three months if re- 
quested by ten voters 43 

chairman and secretary of, to recount ballots . , 44 

choice of, first business in order at caucus 42 

to send certificate to delegates and nominees within three 

week days 38 

to send ballots, etc.. to city and town clerks 43 

penalty on officials failing to send ballots, etc 93 

to file certificates of nomination within seventv-two hour* 

succeeding 5 P. M. of the day caucus was held 71 



INDEX. 

( ancoses- Continued. P 

At which Official Ballots are used "Boston Vel." 

all, to be held under provisions of sections 112 and 143 
inclusive 

political parties may call, to adopt or revoke adoption of 

said provisions 

for political delegates, etc., to be voted for at a city or 

town election, to be held on the same day 

committees to determine days, place and hour of holding. 

no two parties to hold on same day 

party first filing copy of call entitled to preference 

notice to be given of place, day and hour of filing nomina- 
tion paper, and day of holding 

provision shall be made at polling places for voting in 

two lines 

notice giving place, day and hour of holding 

ballots for, to be provided by city or town 

date of, to be given on ballots 

*city or town clerk to deliver ballots, etc., at 

before opening of, presiding officer to post specimen ballots 
to be held in general accordance with provisions relating 

to elections 

order of business 

balloting to continue until 8.30 P. M., time may be ex- 
tended 

all persons in line to be allowed to vote 

in case right of person to vote is challenged 

no officer to give information in regard to any ballot cast 

by voter challenged 

ballots at not to be counted till polls are closed 

ballots at to be counted in full view of tbe voters .... 
presiding officer to make public announcement of result. . 

record and copy to be made of result of balloting 

record and copy to be sent to city or town clerk 

package to be indorsed and sent to *city or town clerk . . 

penalties on officers and voters at 92, 

Under the Joint Caucus Act 

not Jo 1)0 held in Boston for municipal offices ::::. 15, 

to be held at the same time and place as primaries 

to be conducted in general as elections 

revocation of adoption of provisions 

notices of, when issued 

nomination papers, when filed , 

provisions relating to signers of nomination papers ... . 

provisions relating to ballots, ballot boxes, etc 

when to be held for state elections 

when to be held for city elections , 

to be held by precincts . . . . . 

provisions of election law relating to election officers, 

voting places, apparatus, etc., to apply to 

election officers to serve at, as primary officers ...... 

* In Boston, election commissioners. 



xxvi 



INDEX. 

Caucuses— Continued. Pa ^? 

hours during which, shall be open • 6b 

enrolment, manner of 6b 

if accuracy of enrolment is denied, oath to be taken .... 67 

counting votes, canvassing returns, and recounts 67 

in case of a tie vote, etc., at 68 

notice of intention to participate in, to be given 63 

Caucus officers 

term defined 6 

to be elected anually at caucus for choice of delegates 

to state convention 59 

name, number and qualifications of 59 

term of office from October 1st, etc 59 

if state, county or city employee, or members of ward or 

town committee ineligible 59 

cannot serve in caucus if candidate for elective office, for 

nomination to such or ward committee 59 

duties of clerk 38, 39, 57, 67 

names of, on ballot to be arranged in groups 54 

against name of, on ballot to be printed residence .... 54 

candidates for, must file written acceptance 50 

in case of a tie vote at election of 37 

to receive notice of election .... 38 

duties of, same in general as those ot election officers . . 60 

additional to serve in one caucus only, bow provided .... 60 

permanent or temporary to be sworn 60 

vacancies, how filled 40, 60 

not to receive ballot required by law to refuse 57 

not to give information regarding challenged voters .... 57 
to be appointed for first caucus in year following new di- 
vision of wards, etc 60 

in joint caucuses election officers serve as 66 

in joint caucuses special officers to serve part of the 

day to be appointed 65 

in joint caucuses, except in Boston, not ineligible if mem- 
ber or candidate for ward committee 66 

in joint caucuses officers to be appointed in certain cases 

in precincts 66 

in caucuses held preparatory to National Conventions . . 40 

penalties on, for violation of law 93, 95 

Certificate of nomination 

to be sent within three week days of adjournment of cau- 
cus to all nominees, etc 38 

penalty for failure to do so 95 

under joint caucus act 68 

for nominees to an elective office. . 

in Suffolk senatorial districts, how and when filed . . 39 

secretary of the convention or caaucus to file within 

specified time 71 

for candidates nominated for congressmen in certain dis- 
tricts 70 

in districts not wholly within one city or town 39 

filing of for school committee in Boston 76 

contents of and designation in certain cases 74 

to be filed with whom 75 

xxvii 



INDEX. 

Certificate of nomination— Continued. ^ 

acceptance of candidate to be filed 76 

last days for filing in cities and Boston _,. 

last days for filing in towns 76 

last hour for filing 77 

to be valid unless objected to 77 

consideration of objections 78 

notice to candidate and committee • s 

to be open to public inspection and preserved °jj 

blank forms to be furnisbed • • • ••••,;••• " t * 

tr call caucus to order under provisions not appbing to ^ 

Boston, etc 

Chairman 

(see presiding officer.) 

Challenged votes 3(5 

how received ,•••'. * 57 

no information relative to be given 5y 

when not counted 

Challenged voter 36 

required to take an oath . . • • • • • • • « • • • • • • ,7 

to write name and residence on outside of oallot . • .... • < 

Information in regard to ballot cast by, not to oe given il 

Check lists 

(see voting lists.) 

Citle "to*"rovmr polling places, ballot boxes, etc. . . . . ... . . -J2. 48 

if provisions of section applying to Boston, etc., aie 

fo^rovide polling places fitted with booths, guard rail. 

etc., as at state elections 

to provide blank nomination papers o J 

to provide ballots and facsimile ballots •••••• ^* 

to provide ballots, record book, blanks, seal, etc so 

City and town clerks .„ 

to prepare blank nomination papers - . •• ••••■• 

to deliver same to chairman or secertary of committee, 

and to them only 

t0 not 6 1" hav^tnem printed in any 'establishment owned 



54 



bv the city of Boston 
to determine number of ballots when city or town com- 
mittee fail to do so • ••,;•; ," 

to prepare and deliver- at polling places ballots, speci- \ 

men ballots, blanks, etc • ,4 

to keep sealed packages of votes ten days, or upon re- 

quest three months . • • • • • • ** ° 

to produce the same when called for by court 4.>, oS 

to have filed with them renests for recount 4 ; . B8 

duties under the joint caucus act '»-. w 

City committee . M 

existing, when deemed to bo organized . ox 

to consists of the several ward committees ot a city ... .10 

when and how organized ..•■••••••■••- *\ 

list of members and organization to be filed .... .11 

vacancies in offices, to be filled by the committee and filed 31 
to call caucuses for election of ward committee in case 

of a re-division of a city into wards 31 

xxvlil 



INDEX. 

fcity Committees— Continued. PAGE 

may fix numbei of its members 32 

may make rules for its conduct and for caucuses 32 

may make regulations to determine membership in the 

party and to restrain 32 

not to prevent an independent voter from taking part in 

a caucus 32 

to call caucuses relating to special election 35 

to call all caucuses in cities 42, 47 

to give notice of the day, place and hour of holding cau- 
cuses 47, 48 

to publish notices of caucuses, etc., in local papers ... 48 
in cities other than Boston to call caucuses for adoption 

of official ballots in caucuses 46 

penalties on members of 92 

City and town committees, nnder provisions applying 
to eancnses at wliicli official ballots are nsed, "Bo- 
ton Act" 

duties of, in connection with nomination papers 48, 53 

to give eighteen days' notice of tbe day of holding cau- 
cuses and place and time of filing nomination papers . . 47 

to appoint caucus officers for first caucus after adoption 

of Boston provisions 60 

to appoint caucus officers in first caucus in newly incor- 
porated city and in first year after new division of 
wards 60 

to issue calls for regular and special caucuses 35, 47 

to determine number of ballots for caucuses 54 

duties under the joint caucus act 63-68 

chairman or secretary of, 

to notify in cities, aldermen, in towns, selectmen, of 
date of caucuses, that polling places may be pro- 
vided 48 

duties in connection with nomination papers 48 

secretary of, 

to file list of members, officers and vacancies 31 

shall publicly open caucus nomination papers 51 

shall publicly announce nominations 51 

shall indorse time papers were filed with him 51 

may correct errors, irregularities, etc., in such papers 51 

in case of withdrawal of nomination papers 52 

in cities to notify ward committee if caucus nomina- 
tion papers are not filed 51 

in cities to be notified of nominations by ward com- 
mittee in such case 52 

to send nomination papers to *city or town clerk ... 53 
to file notice of adoption or revocation of adoption of 

provisions applying to Boston 46 

to have facsimile of his signature on ballots 54 

penalties on members of 92 

City election 

term defined 6 

City elections 

political calendar, relating to Appendix x 

* In Boston* election commissioners, 
xxix 



INDEX. 



City officer 



term defined 
Condnct of caucuses 



Page 
6 



S3 

term defined - • • • " 

(see caucuses, also primaries.) 
Congressmen 

how nominated in ninth, tenth and eleventh districts . o» 
ballots and returns, how returned i Vc 

special Act of Congress relating to ■ ' ' v 

Contest 

notice of intention in cases of caucus 4^. •>» 

Convention _ 

term defined 

Conventions, political 

term defined -.•••; ; 

may for state, district, etc., make one nomination for eacii 
office to be filled at an election • • 

entitled to have names of candidates nominated on offi- 



cial ballot 



89 



delegates to, for state elections how and when elected . 34, 62, 69 
nominations at, may be made by roll call, in such case a 

majority of votes necessary to nominate iU 

not to be called for or held earlier than four days after 
a caucus, nor called for or held later than 48 hour 

prior to hour of filing certificates of nomination ... (0 
may call upon secretary or clerk of coucus for ballots 

cast etc 

penalty on officers of 9- 

joint caucus act not to apply to caucuses to elect dele- 
gates to conventions to elect delegates to national con- 
vention :* 

to elect delegates to national convention 4U 

Corrupt practices 

candidate for nomination or election not to promise ap- 
pointments, etc 8,i 

not to pay money, etc., except for personal expenses, or 

to a political committee • • • ■ 

may make voluntary payment to a political committee 
no person to make payments otherwise than in his own 

name ■ • • • '• 

money received not to be entered in any other name 

than that of the giver JJ 

candidates not to be solicited for money 

prohibited from giving when solicited 

payment of naturalization fees prohibited ■ 

every political committee to have a treasurer v B 

treasurer to keep detailed accounts v j 

to be chosen before any payments are made 85 

to receive from agents an account of receipts and of 

expenditures v ■ • 

to file detailed statement within 30 days after an elec- 
tion, if receipts, etc.. exceed twenty dollars M 

if not,' statement to that effect to be filed 86 

other persons who receive and expend money to make 

and file statement 87 

statements of all receipts and expenditures, except for 

personal expenses, to be filed by candidates 87 

XXX 



INDEX. 

Corrupt practices Page 

when relating to other than a city election to be filed 

in duplicate with the Secretary of the Commonwealth 88 
secretary of the commonwealth and city clerks to in- 
spect same within 60 days 88 

if statement is incorrect or complaint made, delinquent 

to be notified 88 

complaints to be filed within 90 days after election, but 

may be within 60 days 88 

attorney-general or district attorney may institute pro- 
ceedings in certain cases 89 

courts may compel filing of statements, etc 89 

complaints to be filed within 60 days after election, but 

may be within 30 days 89 

proceedings to be advanced for speedy trial on request 89 

not to be discontinued without consent 89 

witnesses not liable to prosecution except for perjury 90 

statements to be kept 15 months 90 

to be open to public inspection 90 

vouchers for payments over five dollars required 90 

blank forms for statements to be furnished 90 

to whom furnished 90 

to whom the provisions relative to corrupt practices 

apply 91 

certain provisions not to apply to certain publishers ... 91 

Councillor in Suffolk: senatorial districts 

to be nominated by direct plurality vote 69 

Criminal prosecutions for violation of caucus or elec- 
tion laws 5 

validity presumed unless disproved 10 

Day and hour 

last for filing nominations 51, 63, 75, 76, 77, 78 

Definition of terms 2, 4, 59, 86 

to whom to apply under the corrupt practice provisions 83 

Delegates to conventions 

entire group may be voted for by making one cross . . 55 

when majority of, of a delegation are not elected 68 

except as provided no caucus entitled to elect 34, 62 

to nominate candidates to be voted for at a state elec- 
tion to be chosen at one caucus 34 

persons receiving highest number of votes deemed to be 

elected 37 

in case of tie vote, to be chosen by other delegates 37 

proceedings for filling such vacancies 37 

in case of tie vote of a majority, another ballot to be 

taken at once, unless some one objects 38 

if some one objects caucus to be adjourned 38 

to receive certificate of election within three week days 38 

Delegation to convention 

place unfilled or vacancy .' 37 

may fill vacancy caused by tie vote 37 

meeting for purpose, how called 37 

to organize with cbairman and secretary 37 

to notify secretary of convention of the action 37 

Disorderly conduct 

penalty 99, 104 

Direct nominations by direct plurality vote 115 

xxxi 



(Election commissioners of Boston Page 

powers and duties 10, 28 

how appointed 28 

to constitute Boston ballot law commission 10, 28 

to canvass returns oil caucuses 38, 68 

to issue certificates to successful candidates in cities .... 68 

act applicable 28 

Election law 

certain provisions of, to apply to primaries 64 

Election officers 

to serve as primary officers at joint caucuses or primaries 64 

penalty on 92-96 

Enrolment 

how made in joint caucuses <">*; 

voter may have, changed to another party »',7 

if voter denies accuracy of, may take oalli and vole .... »",7 

Elective office 

term defined 7 

Errors, 

correction of in nomination papers 51, 53 

Expenses 

election, and corrupt practices in elections 83-91 

Hampden First Senatorial District 1<>«; 

Hoar for calling caucuses 42, 46, 48, Oti 

(see penalties.) 

and day, last, for filing certificates of nominations and 

nomination papers 75, 77. 78, 79 

for filing relating to a caucus 52 

for withdrawals, objections, etc 53 

for filing petitions for recounts 43, 58, 68 

Illegal voting- 
penalties for 96 

Joint caucuses or primaries (see caucuses.) 

Listing- Board in Boston 

how composed and apointed 26 

copy of section 420 to be posted by 28 

Listing and Registration of voters in Boston 

how person resident in Boston nol listed April 1. may 

be listed .' 26 

If he becomes a resident after April 1 27 

if investigation is satisfactory, certificate to be given 21 

office of police commissioner to be kept open for 

applicants must apply in person 28 

Middlesex Third Senatorial District UMI 

McCall bill. Act of Congress lis 

Municipal Party <»2. Ul\. <5 I 

term defined 7 

to refer only to caucuses for nomination of city offices . . 7 
voting in caucuses of, not to affect voter's right to vote 

in other caucuses 36 

Naturalization 

information relative to Appendix xiil 

payment of fees by political committee, or persons re- 
quired to lile a statement, prohibited 86 



INDEX. 

Nomination Papers for use in caucuses Pagd 

place where, day and hour prior to which shall be filed 

to be stated in notice 47 

notices relative to filing of, shall be published twice ... 48 

blanks to be provided by city or town 48 

blanks to be prepared by *city or town clerk 49. 

blanks to have printed on them sections 120 to 126 49 

to whom to be delivered 49 

no payment can be demanded for 109 

all nominations to be made on 49 

in districts of more than one ward or town 49 

to be signed in person by at least five voters of the party 49 
not to contain more names tban there are persons to be 

elected 00 

written acceptance of every candidate to be filed with ... 50 
a candidate nominated on, must sign acceptance ... 50 
except for delegates, to state residence, other informa- 
tion, etc 50 

information, etc., may be given in not more than eight 

words 50 

for delegates, etc., a brief statement may be added ... 50 

time of filing to be indorsed upon 51 

to be sealed and filed in office of committee ten week 

days before caucus 51 

not to be opened until time for announcing nominations 51 

to be publicly opened and publicly announced 51 

secretary of committee to indorse on, time of receipt ... 51 

errors, irregularities in, etc., may be corrected 51 

if none are filed in a city, ward committee may do so 52 
two sets of papers may be filed in case of disagreement 52 
If ward committee fail to file, officers of city commit- 
tee may 51 

in case of non-receipt in a city 52 

in case of non-receipt in a town 52 

in case of vacancy by death or otherwise in a town ... 52 

in case of withdrawal by person nominated 52 

to be filed with *city or town clerk 53 

to be filed seven week days before time of holding cau- 
cus, before 5 P. M 53 

if after delivery errors are found in, to be returned for 

correction 53 

to be void if corrections are not made and same filed 

before 5 P. M. day following 53 

objections, by whom considered 53 

only names presented on, to be printed on a ballot ... 55 

statements on, to be pointed on ballots 55 

relative to nominations of senator and state committee 69 

for direct nominations for certain elective offices 69 

under the joint caucus act when filed 63 

how signed in districts composed of more than one ward 

or town 49 

for candidates nominated, when filed 75, 76 



In Boston, election commissioners, 
xxxiii 



INDEX. 

Nomination papers relating; to elections Pagb 

• for nomination by voters "li 

number of signatures necessary 72 

to be signed in person, with residence ~- 

women may sign for school committee 73 

certification and filing of papers T'5 

duties of notary, justice of peace, etc 73 

blanks to be furnished by the secretary of the Common 

wealth 

when filed 75, 76 

objections to, by whom considered 77 

Notices applying; to all Caucuses 

every caucus invalid unless called by printed or written . . 
for caucuses to apply only to members calling them .... 36 
to be sent to each candidate for an elective office of his 
nomination and to delegates, etc., of their election . . 
Applying; to Caucuses at which Official llallots 
are not used 
of caucuses to be issued seven days prior to day of holding 4J 

to state place, day and hour of holding .....' 4- 

to be posted and published 42 

to be given by secretary of plaoe and rime of recounts.... 44 

at which Official Ballots are used 

seven days before the day, *o be Issued stating place, day 

and hour 48 

relative to nomination papers to be published *& 

Oath 

to be taken when any person's right to vote is challenged. . • 36 

administration of, to be recorded 36 

Official ballot 

term defined 7 

Party, political 

defined 8 

Penalties 

on officers 92 

on registrar or assistant registrar 92 

on member of listing board or police officer in Boston . . . 92 
on officer of primary, caucus or convention making false 

count, etc 03 

on officer of a caucus violating section 111 

on caucus officer violating section 101 % 

on presiding officer at a caucus, etc., when right to vote ( 

is challenged 9% 

on primary or other officer whose duty it is to recount 

ballots 04 

on primary or other officer violating any provision for 

return of ballots, etc .■ 04 

on caucus or other officer, officer or member of political 

committee or convention failing to perform a duty .... 05 

on primary or election officer in Boston 05 

on voters 95 

for Illegal voting or attempting to vote 05 

for placing distinguishing mark on ballot 05 

for allowing marking of ballot to be seen 95 

for giving false answer or making false oath 96 

for violation of provisions of section 101 as to taking 
an oath 96 

xxxlv 



Penalties— Continued. Page 
for placing distinguishing mark on ballot at a primary or 

election 96 

for making false statements os to inability to mark 

ballots, etc. 96 

for illegal voting or attempting to vote at a primary, etc. 96 

for giving a false answer at a primary, etc 97 

general penalties 97 

for refusal to give true name, information, etc., to . an 



for refusal, etc., in Boston 97 

for giving name of non-resident to assessor 97 

for making a false affidavit, etc., ,as to qualifications for 

assessment or registration 98 

for making false affidavit, etc., as to qualifications for 

being listed in Boston 98 

for registering when not qualified ; false representa- 
tions, etc 98 

for refusal to obey lawful orders of officials in connec- 
tion with registration 99 

for interfering with a supervisor of registration 99 

for removing or defacing a notice, etc., relating to regis- 
tration 99 

for aiding or abetting in illegal voting 99 

for altering, or unauthorized depositing or removing ballot 99 
for falsely making, filing, suppressing, defacting, etc., 

certificate, nomination paper or letter 100 

for notaries, etc., failing to ascertain, identity of signer of 

nomination paper 100 

for writing, printing, posting, distributing, etc., anony- 
mous circulars, etc 100 

for obstructing, etc., transmission of ballots, etc., to or 

from a polling place 101 

for posting, circulating, etc., printed matter in and about 

polling places 101 

for refusing to comply with regulations of authorities . . . 101 
for interfering, etc., with election officers, etc., in per- 
formance of their duties 101 

for defacing, destroying, etc., lists, cards, ballots, sup- 
plies, etc 102 

for forging indorsement, destroying or delaying delivery 

of ballots 102 

for obstructing or delaying a voter 102 

for interfering with voter, or inducing voter to show 

ballot 102 

for obstructing voting at primary or election 103 

for aiding or abetting in illegal voting 103 

for marking ballot not cast by himself contrary to law 103 
for altering, depositing, or removing ballot at primary or 

election with intent to defraud 103 

for removing a ballot from enclosed space before close of 

polls 103 

for paying, giving or promising anything to influence . . . 104 

for disorderly conduct at a caucus, primary, etc 104 

for disobeying orders of caucus or primary officers 104 

for not removing pipe, cigar, liquor, etc 104 

XXXV 



INDEX. 

Penalties— Continued. Paob 

for giving information regarding challenged votes . ... 104 

tices 105, 108, 109 

for violation of provisions relating i<» corrupt prac- 
for publishing in a newspaper any matter tending to aid 

or defeat a political candidate 108 

on corporations for contributing to aid or d< 

political candidate 108, 112 

under the McCall congressional act 121 

Personal Expenses, definition under corrupt practice act ... 84 

what may be incurred under McCall bill 121 

Plurality of votes cast 

person receiving the highest number of votes to be de- 
clared elected or nominated 37 

Political Advertisements 

newspapers not to publish any matter tending to aid or 

defeat, unless signed by responsible person 1<>7 

if inserted in reading column to be marked "advertise- 
ment" 107 

Political calendars 

for state and city elections Appendix xvi, xvii 

Political committee, term defined 7, 83 

Political committees 

provisions of corrupt practices relating to 83 

names, when chosen, term of office, etc 29 

existing when party first polls three per' cent of vote for 

governor deemed organized 32 

may make rules, regulations, etc 

certificates of election to be sent each member of 38 

not to prevent voter supporting independent candidate 

from participating in a caucus 32 

except as provided no caucus entitled to choose .... 34 

to be chosen by ballot 43, 56 

each member to receive notice of his election 38 

member of, may contest election 43 

when deemed to be organized 

to call special caucuses 35 

under corrupt practice provisions 84 

may receive voluntary contributions from candidates . . 85 

not to solicit contributions from cadidates 85 

not to make payments for naturalization fees 

to have a treasurer 

no expenditures to be made till treasurer is chosen .... 85 
prohibited from employing over six persons in a pre- 
cinct 112 

prohibited from demanding payment for nomination 

papers 109 

(see state, city, ward and town committees) 

Political convention term defined (see convention) 8 

Political Contributions 

corporations prohibited from making 107. 1 1 l' 

penalties ins. hj 

Political party term defined 8 

each annualy to elect a state committee 20 

each in a city to annually elect a ward committee 30 

each in a town to annually elect a town committee 30 

xxxvl 



INDEX. 

Political party —Continued. Pagb 
rules and regulations may be made to determine member- 
ship in a 32 

no person can take part in caucus of more tban one ... 36 

no two, to bold caucuses on tbe same day 35 

first filing copy of call of caucuses entitled to precedence 35 

oath to be taken by person claiming to be a member of a 36 

may accept provisions of sections applying to Boston, etc. 62 

may revoke acceptance, etc 62 

proceding for such purpose 62 

authorized to make nominations by caucus or convention 69 

Polling place terms defined 8 

Polling- places 

aldermen and selectmen to be notified to prepare . . . 35, 42 

to be provided at the expense of city or town 42 

city and town committees to be notified or location 42 

in Boston election commissioners to prepare and assign 

places 48 

to be fitted up at at elections 48 

when twenty-five voters request, to be arranged to allow 

voting in two or more lines 48 

ballots, etc., to be delivered at 55 

specimen ballots to be provided for each 56 

to be posted in, until polls are closed 56 

distribution of printed matter, circulars, etc., at, prohib- 
ited 101 

penalty 101 

Polls provisions for opening and closing 35, 43, 56, 57, 66 

to be kept open a specified time 55, 56, 66 

for primaries, by whom determined 66 

Precincts 

joint caucuses or primaries to be held by, elsewhere 

as aldermen or selectmen may determine 24 

when caucuses may be held by, elsewhere than *.n Boston 

and towns wherein elections are held by 35 

Presiding officer 

to open the caucus at the hour appointed therfor 36, 42 

to administer oath to voter whose right is challenged ... 36 
with secretary and clerk to send a certificate o£ election 

or notice of nomination to persons entitled 38 

to post specimen ballots in polling place 56 

to require challenged person to write name on ballot ... 56 

to add name of person challenging, etc 56 

not to give information in regard to such ballot 56 

to publicly announce result 57 

penalties on (see chairman and warden.) 93, 94, 95 

Primary definition of term " 8 

Primary officers provisions relating to 64 

Primaries or joint caucuses (see caucuses.) 
Printed matter 

distribution of, at caucuses and elections prohibited—. . 101 
Qualification of voters 

criminal proceedings for violation of law relating to ... . 10 

of male voters 12 

persons honorably discharged from U. S. army or navy 

not disqualified 12 

when residence is changed 13 

xxxvii 



INDEX. 

Qualification of Voters— Continued. Pagk 

place of registration and voting, how determined .... IS 

of female voters 13 

ability to read constitution, how ascertained 20 

examination of, in certain cases 20 

inquests in alleged violations, etc., of law relating to . . . 91 
Records 

of result of balloting, etc., to be made jj' 

all to be transmitted to *city or town clerk 51 

Recount of ballots 

notice for, to be filed by candidates, etc., with secre- 
tary of caucus within three days *3 

notice of, to be given in writing to persons Interested 43 
chairman and secretary of caucus to recount within 

twenty-four hours ' l 

in Boston, and cities and towns using official ballots .... 
notice for, to be filed by ten voters with *city or town 

clerk 58 

in Boston election commissioners to recount 58 

registrars of voters in other cities and towns 59 

candidate or his agent may be present 58 

at caucuses for nomination of candidates for con;:! 

men in certain districts •':'•> 

at caucuses at which are made direct nominations 89 

filing petition for, under the joint caucus act 68 

Re-division of a city into wards 

special provisions for election of a ward committee ....31, G- 
♦Reg-istrars 

term defined - 8 

to hold extra session for registration preceding first cau- 
cus preceding state election 16 

to hold sessions in cities and towns as prescribed by 

by-laws 16, 17 

when registration ceases 18 

any, may receive application for registration I s 

to hold a continuous session preceding a special election 18 
not to register after 10 P. M. on the last day, but may 

correct errors IN 

shall post places and hours of holding sessions 19 

to canvas certain returns 

to furnish last voting list for use in caucuses 

to recount ballots in certain cases :\'.K 11, 58 

Registration of voters 

one session for, to be held before first caucus preceding 

annual state election 16 

if name of applicant has not been transmitted to regis- 
trars he must present tax bill or certificate 10 

if applicant is a naturalized citizen, must produce papers 21 
if registrars decline to register or reject an applicant 

he shall be notified 21 

registers to be revised and corrected 21 

in case of alleged illegal or Incorrect registration 22 

notice of errors to be sent to assessors, except in Boston 24 
duties of registrars, etc.. to be performed in open session 24 

records to be open to public 24 

papers to be preserved 24 

* In Boston election commlsslonera 
xxxviii 



INDEX. 

fffifistration of voters— Continued. Pa«*i 

registrars given authority to enforce order 25 

may have police officers 25 

Governor may appoint supervisors of registration 25 

invalidity to be proven 10 

applicant for, must apply in person 19 

applicant to prove assessment 19 

applicant for, to be examined as to qualifications 20 

if applicant is a minor 21 

if name is correctly registered to remain on list 23 

if name is on incorrectly to be stricken off 23 

Representative district conventions 

not to be held earlier than seven days after date desig- 
nated for holding caucuses for choosing delegates to 
the state convention 70 

Rnles and regulations 

state, city and town committee may make 32 

Return of votes 

in certain senatorial districts 38, 106, 110, 114 

in districts nominating by a direct vote 38 

for nomination of congressmen in certain districts 38 

in districts composed of more than one ward of a city 38 
in districts composed of more than one ward or town ... 39 
Secretary of caucus 

(see caucuses.) 

(see city and town committee.) 

Secretary of the Commonwealth 

to receive from state, city and town committees list of 
members, officers and vacancies occurring ?0 

to receive notice from state political committee of call 

for caucus 35 

to receive from city and town, committees notice of 
adoption or revocation of adoption of provisions apply- 
ing to Boston 47 

Secretary of a convention 

to file certificate of nomination within seventy-two hours 
succeeding 5 P. M. of the day caucus was held 71 

penalty for failure 94, 95 

Secretary of state coniniitt ee 

(see state committee.) 
Secretary of town committee 
Secretary of the city committee 

(see city and town committee.) 
Selectmen of towns 

to provide polling places for holding caucuses 42, 48 

to notify committees of place selected for holding cau- 
cuses 42, t8 

Smoking:, etc. 

at caucuses, prohibited 104 

penalties for violation of law , 104 



INDEX. 

Special caucuses for special elections Pagh 
for election of a ward committee in case of a re-di- 
vision of a city into wards 31 

to be held as political committees may determine SS 

chairman and secretary shall issue calls for 36 

when to be held under joint caucus provisions 6 I 

Specimen ballots 

to be delivered and posted at polling places 55 

to be furnished by cities and towns 53 

State Committee 

to be elected annually 29 

how constituted, when elected, term of office, etc -'•» 

how elected in Suffolk Senatorial Districts -J'-t 

how elected in 1st Hampden and 3rd Middlesex Districts 106 

how elected in First Worcester District 109 

how elected in First Essex Senatorial District lit 

may he elected by direct vote in other districts . .. 115 

bow organized, and when i*» 

vacancies in officers or membership how filled by the com- 
mittee and filed 30 

may make rules, etc., for its conduct, also relative to 

caucuses and conventions called by it 32 

may fix number of its members 3U 

+o designate the date of caucuses relating to state elec- 
tions, except where provisions of joint caucus apply . . 34 
chai'-man and secretary of, 

to send call or caucuses relating to state elections to 

city of town committees 35 

secretary of 

to file with secretary of commonwealth, list of mem- 
bers, officers, and of vacancies filled 

to send same to city and town committees 30 

penalties on members of 95 

State election 

term defined 8 

when held 82 

State officer 

term defined , 8 

Suffolk County, Caucuses in 

when held 34 

Senatorial districts , Appendix viil 

Suffolk senatorial districts. et< 

special provisions for nom. nation of senators and election 

of members of state committee 38, 69 

Sundays and bolidays 

When period of time falls on. how computed 

Terms 

defined 2, 6, 83, 84 

fie vote 

if for delegates to a convention, e.c, vacancy to be filled 

by remaining delegates 37 

If for ward and town committee oi caucus officers, va- 
cancy by elected members 87 

if for elective office, a majority of a delegation, etc. . . 38 
if for candidate nominated directly for any office to be 

deemed a vacancy 39 

if for candidates for an elective office to be deemed a 

vacancy, how filled 68 

xl 



INDEX 

cowni Page 

(see cities and towns.) 
Town clerks 

(see city and town clerks.) 
Town committee 

how elected and tprm of office • 30 

to consist of not less than three persons 30 

vacancies in officers and membership of, how filled and 

filed 30 

to organize between January 1 and March 1 31 

in case of a tie vote at election of 31 

in case of a tie vote for a majority of 38, 68 

to organize hy choice of chairman, secretary and treasurer 31 

to file organization and any vacancies occurring 31 

may make rules, etc., for its proceedings and relative to 

caucuses and fix number of members 32 

may make rules to determine membership, etc., in the 

party 32 

not to prevent voter supporting independent candidate 

from participating in a caucus 32 

to call and give notice of all caucuses in their towns ... 42 

to post and publish in newspapers notices 42 

to notify selectmen to provide , poling places 42, 48 

to take action relative to adoption or revocation of pro- 
visions for official ballots 46 

to appoint caucus officers for first caucus after adoption 60 
to call caucus to order in certain towns in absence of tem- 

* porary chairman 42 

file notice of adoption or revocation of special Boston 

provisions 46 

penalties imposed on members of ■ 95 

(see city and town committee.) 

duties under joint caucus act 63 

members of not ineligible for a primary officer 66 

in certain cases may request selectmen to hold caucuses 

in precincts 35 

(see city and town committee.) 
Town election. 

term defined 8 

Town officer 

term defined 9 

Two leading political parties 

tPTin defined 9 

Vacancy 

in offices of state, city and town committee, how filled . 30, 31 
in membership of state, ward and town committees to be 

filled by members 30, 31, 37 

caused by tie vote for delegates, to be filled by remaining 

delegates 37 

caused by tie vote for members of town and ward com- 
mittees and caucus offices to be filled by members 

elected 37 

in case one or two delegates are elected 37 

caused by withdrawals 50, 52, 7S, 79 

in caucus officers 37, 40, 60 



INDEX 

Vacancy— Continued. PAGE 

in case of tie vote in direct nominations 3!> 

in case of tie vote for candidates for an elective office . . 68 

in state ballot law commission 

if majority of delegation, etc., is not elected shall be 
deemed a . , 68 

Violations of provisions of the election law 

disposition of cases of 105 

Voter 

term defined 'J 

supporting independent candidate not to be deprived 

of participating in a caucus 

not to be prevented from voting in a caucus if he takes 

a prescribed oath 86 

taking oath may be challenged 30 

number of ballots for caucuses, not to exceedd one for 
each 64, <',4 

may make one cross in the circle at the head of a group 
of candidates 66 

may vote for one or more candidates in a group by mak- 
ing a cross against each name, etc 66 

to take a prescribed oath when accuracy of enrolment is 

denied G7 

Voters 

upon written request of fifty, caucuses to be called for 
adoption of Boston provisions .•. 40 

upon request of twenty-five, polling places to be arranged 

for voting in two lines 4s 

officers not to give information in regard to ballot cast 
by challenged r.T 

votes to be counted in full view of r.7 

qualification of l_' 

Voting 

under joint caucus act, how conducted <\i\ 

Voting- lists 

to be furnished by *registrar 26 

to be used in balloting as check lists 37 

persons whose names are not on, not eutitled to vote in 

caucuses ."." 

to be sent to polling places by 'city or town clerks r>V> 

record to be made of names checked on 57 

to be returned, with ballots, etc., to *city or town clerks r»7 

to be kept for three months 58 

to be used at a recount 68 

copy of, as used and checked in a caucus to be furnished 

upon application of ten voters 68 

Voting precincts 

how established 35 

* In Boston, election commissioners. 



INDEX 

Ward committee Page 

to be chosen annually 30 

to consist of not less than three members 30 

term of office 30 

organization, when and how made 31 

shall constitute a city committee 30 

in case of a tie vote for 37 

city committee to call for caucuses for same election of, 

in case of redivision of a city into wards 31 

certain duties imposed in the event of a tie vote .... 40 
after change of ward lines, not to be chosen at joint cau- 
cuses or primaries 62 

when majority is not elected 38, 68 

penalties imposed on members of 95 

Ward committee Tinder provisions applying- to Bos- 
ton, etc. 

city committee to call caucuses for same 47 

caucuses for choice of, to be held on the same day 47 

day to be same for caucuses relating to a city election ... 47 

to file nomination papers in certain cases 52 

residence shal be given on nomination papers and ballots 50, 54 

names on ballots to be arranged in groups 54 

one cross may be made for a group of candidates for ... 55 

member of, not eligible for a caucus officer 59 

candidate for, cannot serve as a caucus officer 59 

except in Boston, members and candidates for, may serve 

as primary officers 66 

vacancies in officers and membership of, how filled and 

filed 31 

any member of a, to call a caucus to order in certain 

cities in absence of temporary chairman 42 

penalties imposed on members of 95 

Warden 

(see presiding officer.) 
(see caucus officers.) 
(see primary officers.) 
Withdrawals 

candidate nominated must file written acceptance .... 50 
by a person nominated by a nomination paper for a cau- 
cus vacancy thus caused, how filled 50 

by a candidate nominated for any state or city office . . . 

vacancy thus caused, how filled 78 

when filed, all, relating to elections must be open to pub- 
lic inspection 80 

under the joint caucus act 80 

when certificates to fill vacancies caused by, are to be filed 80 

of candidate nominated by direct nomination 78 

vacancy thus caused how filled 79 

Worcester First Senatorial District 109 



LBJa'15 



